AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT among NORTHSTAR REALTY FINANCE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as Depositor NORTHSTAR REALTY FINANCE CORP., as Guarantor WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY as Property Trustee WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY as Delaware Trustee and THE...
AMENDED
AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
among
NORTHSTAR
REALTY FINANCE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
as
Depositor
NORTHSTAR
REALTY FINANCE CORP.,
as
Guarantor
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY
as
Property Trustee
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY
as
Delaware Trustee
and
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
as
Administrative Trustees
________________
Dated
as
of March 30, 2007
NORTHSTAR
REALTY FINANCE TRUST VII
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I.
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Defined
Terms
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1
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SECTION
1.1.
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Definitions.
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1
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ARTICLE
II.
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The
Trust
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10
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SECTION
2.1.
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Name.
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10
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SECTION
2.2.
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Office
of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.
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10
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SECTION
2.3.
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Initial
Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses.
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10
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SECTION
2.4.
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Purposes
of Trust.
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11
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SECTION
2.5.
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Authorization
to Enter into Certain Transactions.
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11
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SECTION
2.6.
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Assets
of Trust.
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14
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SECTION
2.7.
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Title
to Trust Property.
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14
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ARTICLE
III.
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Payment
Account; Paying Agents
|
14
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SECTION
3.1.
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Payment
Account.
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14
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SECTION
3.2.
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Appointment
of Paying Agents.
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15
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ARTICLE
IV.
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Distributions;
Redemption
|
15
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SECTION
4.1.
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Distributions.
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15
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SECTION
4.2.
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Redemption.
|
16
|
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SECTION
4.3.
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Subordination
of Common Securities.
|
19
|
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SECTION
4.4.
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Payment
Procedures.
|
20
|
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SECTION
4.5.
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Withholding
Tax.
|
20
|
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SECTION
4.6.
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Tax
Returns and Other Reports.
|
20
|
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SECTION
4.7.
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Payment
of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.
|
21
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SECTION
4.8.
|
Payments
under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.
|
21
|
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SECTION
4.9.
|
Exchanges.
|
21
|
|
SECTION
4.10.
|
Calculation
Agent.
|
22
|
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SECTION
4.11.
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Certain
Accounting Matters.
|
22
|
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ARTICLE
V.
|
Securities
|
23
|
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SECTION
5.1.
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Initial
Ownership.
|
23
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SECTION
5.2.
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Authorized
Trust Securities.
|
23
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SECTION
5.3.
|
Issuance
of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of
Notes.
|
23
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SECTION
5.4.
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The
Securities Certificates.
|
24
|
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SECTION
5.5.
|
Rights
of Holders.
|
25
|
|
SECTION
5.6.
|
Book-Entry
Preferred Securities.
|
25
|
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SECTION
5.7.
|
Registration
of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates.
|
27
|
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SECTION
5.8.
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates.
|
28
|
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SECTION
5.9.
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Persons
Deemed Holders.
|
29
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SECTION
5.10.
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Cancellation.
|
29
|
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SECTION
5.11.
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Ownership
of Common Securities by Depositor.
|
29
|
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SECTION
5.12.
|
Restricted
Legends.
|
30
|
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SECTION
5.13.
|
Form
of Certificate of Authentication.
|
32
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i
Page
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ARTICLE
VI.
|
Meetings;
Voting; Acts of Holders
|
33
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SECTION
6.1.
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Notice
of Meetings.
|
33
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SECTION
6.2.
|
Meetings
of Holders of the Preferred Securities.
|
33
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SECTION
6.3.
|
Voting
Rights.
|
33
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SECTION
6.4.
|
Proxies,
Etc.
|
34
|
|
SECTION
6.5.
|
Holder
Action by Written Consent.
|
34
|
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SECTION
6.6.
|
Record
Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
|
34
|
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SECTION
6.7.
|
Acts
of Holders.
|
34
|
|
SECTION
6.8.
|
Inspection
of Records.
|
35
|
|
SECTION
6.9.
|
Limitations
on Voting Rights.
|
35
|
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SECTION
6.10.
|
Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past
Defaults.
|
36
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ARTICLE
VII.
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
39
|
|
SECTION
7.1.
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee.
|
39
|
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SECTION
7.2.
|
Representations
and Warranties of Depositor.
|
40
|
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ARTICLE
VIII.
|
The
Trustees
|
41
|
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SECTION
8.1.
|
Number
of Trustees.
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.2.
|
Property
Trustee Required.
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.3.
|
Delaware
Trustee Required.
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.4.
|
Appointment
of Administrative Trustees.
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.5.
|
Duties
and Responsibilities of the Trustees.
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.6.
|
Notices
of Defaults and Extensions.
|
44
|
|
SECTION
8.7.
|
Certain
Rights of Property Trustee.
|
44
|
|
SECTION
8.8.
|
Delegation
of Power.
|
46
|
|
SECTION
8.9.
|
May
Hold Securities.
|
47
|
|
SECTION
8.10.
|
Compensation;
Reimbursement; Indemnity.
|
47
|
|
SECTION
8.11.
|
Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
|
48
|
|
SECTION
8.12.
|
Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor.
|
49
|
|
SECTION
8.13.
|
Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
|
49
|
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SECTION
8.14.
|
Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
|
50
|
|
SECTION
8.15.
|
Property
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
|
50
|
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SECTION
8.16.
|
Reports
to and from the Property Trustee.
|
51
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ARTICLE
IX.
|
Termination,
Liquidation and Merger
|
51
|
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SECTION
9.1.
|
Dissolution
Upon Expiration Date.
|
51
|
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SECTION
9.2.
|
Early
Termination.
|
51
|
|
SECTION
9.3.
|
Termination.
|
52
|
|
SECTION
9.4.
|
Liquidation.
|
52
|
|
SECTION
9.5.
|
Mergers,
Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust.
|
53
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ARTICLE
X.
|
Information
to Purchaser
|
55
|
|
SECTION
10.1.
|
Depositor
Obligations to Purchaser.
|
55
|
|
SECTION
10.2.
|
Property
Trustee’s Obligations to Purchaser.
|
55
|
|
ARTICLE
XI.
|
Miscellaneous
Provisions
|
55
|
|
SECTION
11.1.
|
Limitation
of Rights of Holders.
|
55
|
|
SECTION
11.2.
|
Agreed
Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities.
|
55
|
|
SECTION
11.3.
|
Amendment.
|
56
|
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SECTION
11.4.
|
Separability.
|
57
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ii
Page
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SECTION
11.5.
|
Governing
Law.
|
57
|
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SECTION
11.6.
|
Successors.
|
57
|
|
SECTION
11.7.
|
Headings.
|
58
|
|
SECTION
11.8.
|
Reports,
Notices and Demands.
|
58
|
|
SECTION
11.9.
|
Agreement
Not to Petition.
|
58
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Certificate
of Trust of NorthStar Realty Finance Trust VII
|
||
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Common Securities Certificate
|
||
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Preferred Securities Certificate
|
||
Exhibit
D
|
Junior
Subordinated Indenture
|
||
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Transferee Certificate to be Executed by Transferees other than
QIBs
|
||
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Transferor Certificate to be Executed by QIBs
|
||
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Officer’s Financial Certificate
|
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Exhibit
H
|
Form
of Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 8.16(a)
|
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Schedule
A
|
Calculation
of LIBOR
|
iii
AMENDED
AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of March 30, 2007, among (i) NorthStar
Realty Finance Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (including
any successors or permitted assigns, the “Depositor”), (ii) NorthStar Realty
Finance Corp., a Maryland corporation (including any successors or permitted
assigns, the “Guarantor”), (iii) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the “Property Trustee”),
(iv) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware
trustee (in such capacity, the “Delaware Trustee”), (v) Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, an
individual, Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, an individual, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, an
individual, each of whose address is c/o NorthStar Realty Finance Limited
Partnership, c/o NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, as administrative trustees (in such capacities, each an
“Administrative Trustee” and, collectively, the “Administrative Trustees” and,
together with the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the “Trustees”) and
(vi) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
Witnesseth
Whereas,
the
Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore created
a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act by
entering into a Trust Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007 (the “Original Trust
Agreement”), and by executing and filing with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware the Certificate of Trust, substantially in the form attached
as Exhibit
A;
and
Whereas,
the
Depositor
and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in
its
entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the
issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the
issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement and (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor
of
all of the right, title and interest in and to the Notes;
Now,
Therefore,
in
consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the
benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement
in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
Defined
Terms
SECTION
1.1. Definitions.
For
all
purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the
terms
defined in this Article
I
have the
meanings assigned to them in this Article
I;
(b) the
words
“include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”;
(c) all
accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to
them
in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(d) unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article”, a “Section”, a
“Schedule” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section, a Schedule or an
Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Trust Agreement;
(e) the
words
“hereby”, “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import
refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article,
Section or other subdivision;
(f) a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
(g) the
masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine,
feminine and neuter genders.
“Act”
has
the meaning specified in Section
6.7.
“Additional
Interest” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
“Additional
Interest Amount” means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation
Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest paid by the
Depositor on a Like Amount of Notes for such period.
“Additional
Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
“Additional
Tax Sums” has the meaning specified in Section
10.5
of the
Indenture.
“Administrative
Trustee” means each of the Persons identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in
the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in each such Person’s capacity as
Administrative Trustee of the Trust and not in such Person’s individual
capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee appointed as herein
provided.
“Affiliate”
of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management
and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
“Applicable
Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction
involving a Book-Entry Preferred Security, the rules and procedures of the
Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Security, in each case to the extent
applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Bankruptcy
Event” means, with respect to any Person:
2
(a)
the
entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises (i)
judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) approving as properly filed
a
petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of
or
in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, (iii) appointing a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official
of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or (iv) ordering
the
winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree
or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;
or
(b)
the
institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or
insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, or the
consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar
official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the
making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission
by
it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due
and
its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of
corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.
“Bankruptcy
Law” means all Federal and state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
other similar laws, including the United States Bankruptcy Code.
“Book-Entry
Preferred Security” means a Preferred Security, the ownership and transfers of
which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.
“Business
Day” means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or
executive order to remain closed or (c) a day on which the Corporate Trust
Office is closed for business.
“Calculation
Agent” has the meaning specified in Section
4.10.
“Change
of Control” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.
“Closing
Date” has the meaning specified in the Purchase Agreement.
“Code”
means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted,
created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this
Trust Agreement such Commission is not existing and performing the duties
assigned to it, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Common
Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Common
Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
B.
3
“Common
Security” means a common security of the Trust, denominated as such and
representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having
a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the terms provided therefor in this
Trust Agreement.
“Corporate
Trust Office” means the principal office of the Property Trustee at which any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office
at the date of this Trust Agreement is located at Xxxxxx Square North, 0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Corporate
Capital Markets.
“Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates” means Preferred Securities issued in
certificated, fully registered form that are not Global Preferred
Securities.
“Delaware
Statutory Trust Act” means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del.
Code § 3801 et seq., or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended
from time to time.
“Delaware
Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Delaware Trustee” in the preamble
to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the
Trust
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein
provided.
“Depositary”
means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act
that is designated as Depositary by the Depositor or any successor thereto.
DTC
will be the initial Depositary.
“Depositary
Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other
Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers
and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.
“Depositor”
has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement and any
successors and permitted assigns.
“Depositor
Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section
4.9.
“Distribution
Date” has the meaning specified in Section
4.1(a)(i).
“Distributions”
means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in
Section
4.1.
“DTC”
means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
“Early
Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section
9.2.
“Event
of
Default” means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by
operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court
or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body):
4
(a)
the
occurrence of a Note Event of Default; or
(b)
default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due
and
payable, and continuation of such default for a period of thirty (30) days;
or
(c)
default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust
Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d)
default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect of any covenant
or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than those specified
in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for
a
period of thirty (30) days after there has been given, by registered or
certified mail, to the Trustees and to the Depositor by the Holders of at least
twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default” hereunder; or
(e)
the
occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property Trustee if a
successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within ninety (90) days
thereof.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any successor statute
thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
“Expiration
Date” has the meaning specified in Section
9.1.
“Fiscal
Year” shall be the fiscal year of the Trust, which shall be the calendar year,
or such other period as is required by the Code.
“Global
Preferred Security” means a Preferred Securities Certificate evidencing
ownership of Book-Entry Preferred Securities.
“Guarantor”
has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement and any
successors and permitted assigns.
“Holder”
means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust Securities are registered
in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be a beneficial owner within
the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
“Indemnified
Person” has the meaning specified in Section
8.10(c).
“Indenture”
means the Junior Subordinated Indenture executed and delivered by the Depositor,
the Guarantor and the Note Trustee contemporaneously with the execution and
delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes,
a
copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
D,
as
amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Indenture
Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section
4.2(c).
“Interest
Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
5
“Investment
Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any successor statute
thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
“Investment
Company Event” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
“LIBOR”
has the meaning specified in Schedule
A.
“LIBOR
Business Day” has the meaning specified in Schedule
A.
“LIBOR
Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Schedule
A.
“Lien”
means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse
ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind
or
nature whatsoever.
“Like
Amount” means (a) with respect to a redemption of any Trust Securities, Trust
Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Notes
to
be contemporaneously redeemed or paid at maturity in accordance with the
Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, (b) with respect to a distribution of Notes to Holders
of
Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution of the Trust, Notes having
a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of
the
Holder to whom such Notes are distributed and (c) with respect to any
distribution of Additional Interest Amounts to Holders of Trust Securities,
Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities in respect of which such distribution is made.
“Liquidation
Amount” means the stated amount of $1,000 per Trust Security.
“Liquidation
Date” means the date on which assets are to be distributed to Holders in
accordance with Section
9.4(a)
hereunder following dissolution of the Trust.
“Liquidation
Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section
9.4(d).
“Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities” means Preferred Securities
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount
of all (or a specified group of) then Outstanding Preferred
Securities.
“Note
Event of Default” means any “Event of Default” specified in Section
5.1
of the
Indenture.
“Note
Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Notes to be redeemed under the
Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Notes under the
Indenture.
“Note
Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Trustee” in the Indenture, solely
in its capacity as Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and not in its individual
capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor
Trustee appointed as provided in the Indenture.
“Notes”
means the Depositor’s Junior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to the
Indenture.
6
“Officer’s
Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, an Executive Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
of the Depositor or the Guarantor, as applicable, and delivered to the Trustees.
Any Officer’s Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition
or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement (other than the certificate
provided pursuant to Section
8.16(a))
shall
include:
(a)
a
statement by each officer signing the Officer’s Certificate that such officer
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b)
a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation
undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officer’s Certificate;
(c)
a
statement that such officer has made such examination or investigation as,
in
such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and
(d)
a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
“Operative
Documents” means the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the
Notes and the Trust Securities.
“Opinion
of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an
employee of, the Depositor or the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Depositor
or
the Guarantor.
“Original
Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of the Trust
Securities.
“Original
Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust
Agreement.
“Outstanding,”
when used with respect to any Trust Securities, means, as of the date of
determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under
this Trust Agreement, except:
(a)
Trust
Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee or delivered to the
Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b)
Trust
Securities for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has
been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent in
trust for the Holders of such Trust Securities; provided, that if such Trust
Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given
pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c)
Trust
Securities that have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other
Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to the provisions
of
this Trust Agreement, unless proof satisfactory to the Property Trustee is
presented that any such Trust Securities are held by Holders in whose hands
such
Trust Securities are valid, legal and binding obligations of the
Trust;
7
provided,
that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount
of
the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred
Securities owned by the Depositor, the Guarantor, any Trustee or any Affiliate
of the Depositor, the Guarantor or of any Trustee shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (i) in determining whether any Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities that such
Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (ii) the foregoing
shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Preferred Securities
are
owned by the Depositor, the Guarantor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any
such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned that have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with
respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor,
the Guarantor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor, the Guarantor
or
of any Trustee.
“Owner”
means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry Preferred Securities
as reflected in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant
is
not the beneficial owner, then the beneficial owner as reflected in the records
of the Depositary Participant.
“Paying
Agent” means any Person authorized by the Administrative Trustees to pay
Distributions or other amounts in respect of any Trust Securities on behalf
of
the Trust.
“Payment
Account” means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account
maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders in which
all
amounts paid in respect of the Notes will be held and from which the Property
Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the Holders in
accordance with Sections
3.1,
4.1
and
4.2.
“Person”
means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association or government, or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.
“Preferred
Security” means a preferred security of the Trust, denominated as such and
representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having
a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the terms provided therefor in this
Trust Agreement.
“Preferred
Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Preferred
Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
C.
“Property
Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Property Trustee” in the preamble
to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the
Trust
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein
provided.
8
“Purchase
Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2007, executed
and delivered by the Trust, the Depositor, the Guarantor, and the
Purchaser.
“Purchaser”
means UBS Securities LLC, whose address is 1285 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: CDO Group, as purchaser of the Preferred
Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“QIB”
means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act.
“Redemption
Date” means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed
for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, that
each
Note Redemption Date and the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment
upon early maturity) of the Notes shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount
of Trust Securities.
“Redemption
Price” means, with respect to any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such
Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the Redemption
Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Depositor
upon
the concurrent redemption or payment at maturity of a Like Amount of
Notes.
“Reference
Banks” has the meaning specified in Schedule
A.
“Responsible
Officer” means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any Senior Vice President,
any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Trust Officer or
Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer in the Corporate Trust Office
of
the Property Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this
Trust Agreement and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer of the Property Trustee to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor statute thereto, in
each case as amended from time to time.
“Securities
Certificate” means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the
Preferred Securities Certificates.
“Securities
Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in
Section
5.7.
“Special
Event Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section
11.2
of the
Indenture.
“Successor
Securities” has the meaning specified in Section
9.5(a).
“Tax
Event” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
“Trust”
means the Delaware statutory trust known as “NorthStar Realty Finance Trust
VII,” which was created on March 26, 2007, under the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement and the filing of the Certificate
of Trust, and continued pursuant to this Trust Agreement.
9
“Trust
Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, including all
Schedules and Exhibits (other than Exhibit D), as the same may be modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the applicable
provisions hereof.
“Trustees”
means the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee, each as defined in this Article
I.
“Trust
Property” means (a) the Notes, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the
Payment Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing
and
any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held
by
the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust
Agreement.
“Trust
Security” means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred
Securities.
ARTICLE
II.
The
Trust
SECTION
2.1. Name.
The
trust
continued hereby shall be known as “NorthStar Realty Finance Trust VII,” as such
name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following
written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in
which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute
contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and xxx and be
sued.
SECTION
2.2. Office
of
the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.
The
address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is Xxxxxx Square North,
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Corporate
Capital Markets, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware
Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders, the Depositor, the
Guarantor, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. The principal
executive office of the Trust is c/o NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, as such address may
be
changed from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written
notice to the Holders and the other Trustees.
SECTION
2.3. Initial
Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses.
The
Property Trustee acknowledges receipt from the Depositor in connection with
the
Original Trust Agreement of the sum of ten dollars ($10), which constituted
the
initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay all fees, costs and expenses
of
the Trust (except with respect to the Trust Securities) as they arise or shall,
upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such fees,
costs and expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim
upon
the Trust Property for the payment of such fees, costs or expenses.
10
SECTION
2.4. Purposes
of Trust.
(a) The
exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are to (i) issue and sell Trust
Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Notes and (ii)
engage in only those activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Delaware
Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees are trustees
of
the Trust, and have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth
herein. The Trustees hereby acknowledge that they are trustees of the
Trust.
(b) So
long
as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting
on
behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction
except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular,
the
Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not (i) acquire
any
investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement,
(ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise
dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders,
except as expressly provided herein, (iii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed
money or issue any other debt, (iv) take or consent to any action that would
result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (v) take or
consent to any action that would reasonably be expected to cause (or, in the
case of the Property Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer
would cause) the Trust to become taxable as a corporation or classified as
other
than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (vi) take
or
consent to any action that would cause (or, in the case of the Property Trustee,
to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer would cause) the Notes to
be
treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal
income tax purposes or (vii) take or consent to any action that would cause
(or,
in the case of the Property Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible
Officer would cause) the Trust to be deemed to be an “investment company”
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
SECTION
2.5. Authorization
to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The
Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with and subject
to the terms of this Trust Agreement. In accordance with the following
provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into
all
transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in
exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees,
under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,
including the following:
(i) As
among
the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall severally have the power,
authority and authorization to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
following matters:
(A) the
issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(B) to
cause
the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the
Trust, such agreements, documents, instruments, certificates and other writings
as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function
of
the Trust, including, without limitation, a common securities subscription
agreement and a junior subordinated note subscription agreement and to cause
the
Trust to perform under the Purchase Agreement;
11
(C) assisting
in the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more transactions exempt
from
registration under the Securities Act, and in compliance with applicable state
securities or blue sky laws;
(D) assisting
in the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with
this Trust Agreement;
(E) the
appointment of a successor Paying Agent and Calculation Agent in accordance
with
this Trust Agreement;
(F) execution
and delivery of the Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust in accordance with
this Trust Agreement;
(G) execution
and delivery of closing certificates, if any, pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement;
(H) preparation
and filing of all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are
required to be filed on behalf of the Trust;
(I) establishing
a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require
a
record date to be established, except as provided in Section
6.10(a);
(J) unless
otherwise required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, to execute on behalf
of
the Trust (either acting alone or together with the other Administrative
Trustees) any documents and other writings that such Administrative Trustee
has
the power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(K) the
taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as such Administrative Trustee
may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to
the
terms of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) As
among
the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power, authority and
authorization to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following
matters:
(A) the
receipt and holding of legal title of the Notes;
(B) the
establishment of the Payment Account;
(C) the
receipt of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the
Notes and the holding of such amounts in the Payment Account;
12
(D) the
distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts distributable to the Holders
in
respect of the Trust Securities;
(E) the
exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Notes
in
accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(F) the
sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust
Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with this Trust
Agreement;
(G) the
distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust
Agreement;
(H) to
the
extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and
liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the
certificate of cancellation of the Trust with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;
(I) application
for a taxpayer identification number for the Trust;
(J) the
authentication of the Preferred Securities as provided in this Trust Agreement;
and
(K) the
taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may
from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the
terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for
the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such
action on any particular Holder).
(b) In
connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor
shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to,
or
effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the
Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust
Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the
negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Purchase
Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more
transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and in
compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws; and
(ii) the
taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the
foregoing activities.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized
and
directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that
the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than
a
grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, so that the Notes
will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal
income tax purposes and so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an
“investment company” required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
In this connection, each Administrative Trustee is authorized to take any
action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this
Trust Agreement, that such Administrative Trustee determines in his or her
discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such
action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the
Holders of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. In no event shall the
Administrative Trustees be liable to the Trust or the Holders for any failure
to
comply with this Section
2.5
to the
extent that such failure results solely from a change in law or regulation
or in
the interpretation thereof.
13
(d) Any
action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the
act
of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with any Trustee acting on behalf
of
the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of such
Trustee to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely
conclusively on the power and authority of any Trustee as set forth in this
Trust Agreement.
SECTION
2.6. Assets
of
Trust.
The
assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
SECTION
2.7. Title
to
Trust Property.
(a) Legal
title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee
and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee in trust for the
benefit of the Trust and the Holders in accordance with this Trust
Agreement.
(b) The
Holders shall not have any right or title to the Trust Property other than
the
undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their
Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below.
The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE
III.
Payment
Account; Paying Agents
SECTION
3.1. Payment
Account.
(a) On
or
prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment
Account. The Property Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have exclusive control
and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose
of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance
with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held
from
time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in
the
Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders and for Distribution
as
herein provided.
(b) The
Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt,
all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments with respect
to, the Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by
the
Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
14
SECTION
3.2. Appointment
of Paying Agents.
The
Property Trustee is appointed as the initial Paying Agent and hereby accepts
such appointment. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from
the
Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have
the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the
purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative
Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in their sole
discretion. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign
as
Paying Agent upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Administrative
Trustees and the Property Trustee. If the Property Trustee shall no longer
be
the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority
to
act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which
shall be a bank or trust company) to act as Paying Agent. Such successor Paying
Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees shall execute and deliver to
the
Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent shall agree with
the
Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent will hold all sums,
if any, held by it for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the
Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The
Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon
removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in
its
possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Article
VIII
shall
apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long
as
the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable,
to
any other Paying Agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Trust
Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the
context requires otherwise.
ARTICLE
IV.
Distributions;
Redemption
SECTION
4.1. Distributions.
(a) The
Trust
Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property,
and
Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) will be made on the
Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of interest
(including any Additional Interest) are made on the Notes.
Accordingly:
(i) Distributions
on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall accumulate whether or
not
there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions.
Distributions shall accumulate from March 30, 2007, and, except as provided
in
clause (ii) below, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on January
30th,
April
30th,
July
30th
and
October 30th
of each
year, commencing on July 30, 2007. If any date on which a Distribution is
otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the
payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day
(and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so
delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding
Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each
date on which Distributions are payable in accordance with this Section
4.1(a)(i), a “Distribution Date”);
15
(ii) Distributions
shall accumulate in respect of the Trust Securities at a variable rate per
annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus the Margin (as defined in the
Indenture) of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, such rate being
the rate of interest payable on the Notes. LIBOR shall be determined by the
Calculation Agent in accordance with Schedule
A.
The
amount of Distributions payable for any Distribution period shall be computed
and paid on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed
in
the relevant Distribution period. The amount of Distributions payable for any
period shall include any Additional Interest Amounts in respect of such period;
and
(iii) Distributions
on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Paying Agent from the Payment
Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that
the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the
payment of such Distributions.
(b) Distributions
on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable
to
the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust
Securities at the close of business on the relevant record date, which shall
be
at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day)
preceding the relevant Distribution Date. Distributions payable on any Trust
Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Date as a result
of
the Depositor having failed to make an interest payment under the Notes will
cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Trust Securities are
registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distributions and
any
Additional Interest Amounts will instead be payable to the Person in whose
name
such Trust Securities are registered on the special record date, or other
specified date for determining Holders entitled to such defaulted Distribution
and Additional Interest Amount, established in the same manner, and on the
same
date, as such is established with respect to the Notes under the
Indenture.
(c) As
a
condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the Trust Securities
without the imposition of withholding tax, the Administrative Trustees shall
require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S.
federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form
W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a “United
States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or an
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case
of
a person that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code) and any other certification acceptable to it to enable
the Paying Agent to determine its duties and liabilities with respect to any
taxes or other charges that it may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in
respect of such Trust Securities.
SECTION
4.2. Redemption.
(a) On
each
Note Redemption Date and on the stated maturity (or any date of principal
repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes and on each other date on (or in
respect of) which any principal on the Notes is repaid, the Trust will be
required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption
Price.
16
(b) Notice
of
redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior
to
the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such
Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption
shall state:
(i) the
Redemption Date;
(ii) the
Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated prior to
the
time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the Redemption Price
provided pursuant to the Indenture, as calculated by the Depositor, together
with a statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price
will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the fifth Business Day prior
to
the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall
be
sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price
is
calculated);
(iii) if
less
than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification
(and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective Liquidation Amounts)
and
Liquidation Amounts of the particular Trust Securities to be
redeemed;
(iv) that
on
the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon
each
such Trust Security, or portion thereof, to be redeemed and that Distributions
thereon will cease to accumulate on such Trust Security or such portion, as
the
case may be, on and after said date, except as provided in Section
4.2(d);
(v) the
place
or places where the Trust Securities are to be surrendered for the payment
of
the Redemption Price; and
(vi) such
other provisions as the Property Trustee deems relevant.
(c) The
Trust
Securities (or portion thereof) redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption or payment at maturity of Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities
(or portion thereof) shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable
on
each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand
and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
Under the Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest
Payment Date, at the Depositor’s option, on or after the earlier to occur of (i)
a Change of Control Event (as defined in the Indenture) or (ii) April 30, 2012,
in whole or in part, from time to time at a redemption price equal to one
hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof, together, in the case
of
any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest,
to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (the “Indenture Redemption
Price”). The Notes may also be redeemed by the Depositor, at its option, in
whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of an Investment Company Event or
a
Tax Event at the Special Event Redemption Price (as set forth in the
Indenture).
17
(d) If
the
Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred
Securities, then by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Redemption Date,
the
Depositor shall deposit sufficient funds with the Property Trustee to pay the
Redemption Price. If such deposit has been made by such time, then by 12:00
noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Property Trustee will,
with respect to Book-Entry Preferred Securities, irrevocably deposit with the
Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Securities, to the extent available
therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will
give
such Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption
Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities. With respect to Preferred
Securities that are not Book-Entry Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee
will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, to the extent available
therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will
give
the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption
Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities upon surrender of their
Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions
payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities (or portion
thereof) called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust
Securities as they appear on the Securities Register on the relevant record
dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have
been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit,
all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities (or portion thereof) so called
for redemption will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive the
Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect of the Trust Securities
on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and, in the case
of a
partial redemption, the right of such Holders to receive a new Trust Security
or
Securities of authorized denominations, in aggregate Liquidation Amount equal
to
the unredeemed portion of such Trust Security or Securities, and such Securities
(or portion thereof) called for redemption will cease to be Outstanding. In
the
event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business
Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made
on
the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of
the
amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such
date
until the next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day
falls
in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect
as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price
in
respect of any Trust Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption
is
improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the
Depositor or the Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, Distributions on such
Trust Securities (or portion thereof) will continue to accumulate, as set forth
in Section
4.1,
from
the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust
Securities(or portion thereof) to the date such Redemption Price is actually
paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(e) Subject
to Section
4.3(a),
if
less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a
Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities
to be
redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Common Securities and the Preferred
Securities based upon the relative aggregate Liquidation Amounts of the Common
Securities and the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected on a pro rata basis based upon their respective Liquidation
Amounts not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called
for redemption; provided, however, that with respect to Holders that would
be
required to hold less than one hundred (100) but more than zero (0) Trust
Securities as a result of such redemption, the Trust shall redeem Trust
Securities of each such Holder so that after such redemption such Holder shall
hold either one hundred (100) Trust Securities or such Holder no longer holds
any Trust Securities, and shall use such method (including, without limitation,
by lot) as the Trust shall deem fair and appropriate; and provided, further,
that so long as the Preferred Securities are Book-Entry Preferred Securities,
such selection shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Depositary
Procedures for the Preferred Securities by such Depositary. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred
Securities (or portion thereof) selected for redemption and, in the case of
any
Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount
thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of
Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be
redeemed.
18
(f) The
Trust
in issuing the Trust Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in
use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall indicate the “CUSIP” numbers of the
Trust Securities in notices of redemption and related materials as a convenience
to Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation
is
made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Trust
Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related
materials.
SECTION
4.3. Subordination
of Common Securities.
(a) Payment
of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, the Redemption
Price of and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Trust Securities,
as applicable, shall be made, pro rata among the Common Securities and the
Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the respective Trust
Securities; provided, that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date or
Liquidation Date an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
no
payment of any Distribution (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on,
Redemption Price of or Liquidation Distribution in respect of, any Common
Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or
other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full
in
cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including any Additional
Interest Amounts) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution
periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the
Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding
Preferred Securities then called for redemption, or in the case of payment
of
the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution
on
all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for,
and
all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied
to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including any Additional
Interest Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of or the Liquidation Distribution
in respect of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable.
(b) In
the
case of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Holders of the Common
Securities shall have no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default
under this Trust Agreement until all such Events of Default with respect to
the
Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until
all
such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities
and not on behalf of the Holders of the Common Securities, and only the Holders
of all the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property
Trustee to act on their behalf.
19
SECTION
4.4. Payment
Procedures.
Payments
of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts), the Redemption
Price, Liquidation Amount or any other amounts in respect of the Preferred
Securities shall be made by wire transfer at such place and to such account
at a
banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing at
least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person
entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been
received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be
made
by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear
in
the Securities Register. If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary,
such Distributions thereon shall be made to the Depositary in immediately
available funds. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made
in
such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the
Holder of all the Common Securities.
SECTION
4.5. Withholding
Tax.
The
Trust
and the Administrative Trustees shall comply with all withholding and backup
withholding tax requirements under United States federal, state and local law.
The Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall request, and the
Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary
to establish an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax with
respect to each Holder and any representations and forms as shall reasonably
be
requested by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust to assist it
in
determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding and backup
withholding tax obligations. The Administrative Trustees shall file required
forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding
and backup withholding tax is properly established by a Holder, shall remit
amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To
the
extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any
jurisdiction with respect to Distributions or allocations to any Holder, the
amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the
withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders
shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount
required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the
Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust may reduce subsequent
Distributions by the amount of such required withholding.
SECTION
4.6. Tax
Returns and Other Reports.
(a) The
Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) at the principal
office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury
regulations section 301.7701-7, at the Depositor’s expense, and file, all United
States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required
to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall
prepare at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined
for purposes of Treasury regulations section 301.7701-7, and furnish (or cause
to be prepared and furnished), by January 31 in each taxable year of the Trust
to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms and returns required to be
provided by the Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor
and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly
after such filing or furnishing.
20
SECTION
4.7. Payment
of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.
Upon
receipt under the Notes of Additional Tax Sums and upon the written direction
of
the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay, solely
out
of monies on deposit pursuant to this Trust Agreement, any Additional Taxes
imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing
authority.
SECTION
4.8. Payments
under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.
Any
amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities shall be reduced
by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (or any Owner with
respect thereto) has directly received pursuant to Section
5.8
of the
Indenture or Section
6.10(b)
of this
Trust Agreement.
SECTION
4.9. Exchanges.
(a) If
at any
time the Depositor or any of its Affiliates (in either case, a “Depositor
Affiliate”) is the Owner or Holder of any Preferred Securities, such Depositor
Affiliate shall have the right to deliver to the Property Trustee all or such
portion of its Preferred Securities as it elects and, subject to compliance
with
Sections 2.2 and 3.5 of the Indenture, receive, in exchange therefor, a Like
Amount of Notes. Such election (i) shall be exercisable effective on any
Distribution Date by such Depositor Affiliate delivering to the Property Trustee
a written notice of such election specifying the Liquidation Amount of Preferred
Securities with respect to which such election is being made and the
Distribution Date on which such exchange shall occur, which Distribution Date
shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date of receipt by
the
Property Trustee of such election notice and (ii) shall be conditioned upon
such
Depositor Affiliate having delivered or caused to be delivered to the Property
Trustee or its designee the Preferred Securities that are the subject of such
election by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the Distribution Date on which such
exchange is to occur. After the exchange, such Preferred Securities will be
canceled and will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and all rights of the
Depositor Affiliate with respect to such Preferred Securities will
cease.
(b) In
the
case of an exchange described in Section
4.9(a),
the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust will, on the date of such exchange,
exchange Notes having a principal amount equal to a proportional amount of
the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Common Securities, based on
the
ratio of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities exchanged
pursuant to Section
4.9(a)
divided
by the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Outstanding
immediately prior to such exchange, for such proportional amount of Common
Securities held by the Depositor (which contemporaneously shall be canceled
and
no longer be deemed to be Outstanding); provided, that the Depositor delivers
or
causes to be delivered to the Property Trustee or its designee the required
amount of Common Securities to be exchanged by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on
the
Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur.
21
SECTION
4.10. Calculation
Agent.
(a) The
Property Trustee shall initially, and, subject to the immediately following
sentence, for so long as it holds any of the Notes, be the Calculation Agent
for
purposes of determining LIBOR for each Distribution Date. The Calculation Agent
may be removed by the Administrative Trustees at any time. If the Calculation
Agent is unable or unwilling to act as such or is removed by the Administrative
Trustees, the Administrative Trustees will promptly appoint as a replacement
Calculation Agent the London office of a leading bank which is engaged in
transactions in three-month U.S. dollar deposits in Europe and which does not
control or is not controlled by or under common control with the Administrative
Trustees or their Affiliates. The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties
without a successor having been duly appointed.
(b) The
Calculation Agent shall be required to agree that, as soon as possible after
11:00 a.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event
later
than 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Business Day immediately following each
LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the interest
rate
and dollar amount (rounded to the nearest cent, with half a cent being rounded
upwards) for the related Distribution Date, and will communicate such rate
and
amount to the Depositor, the Property Trustee, each Paying Agent and the
Depositary. The Calculation Agent will also specify to the Administrative
Trustees the quotations upon which the foregoing rates and amounts are based
and, in any event, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Administrative
Trustees before 5:00 p.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date that
either: (i) it has determined or is in the process of determining the foregoing
rates and amounts or (ii) it has not determined and is not in the process of
determining the foregoing rates and amounts, together with its reasons therefor.
The Calculation Agent’s determination of the foregoing rates and amounts for any
Distribution Date will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding
upon all parties. For the sole purpose of calculating the interest rate for
the
Trust Securities, “Business Day” shall be defined as any day on which dealings
in deposits in Dollars are transacted in the London interbank
market.
SECTION
4.11. Certain
Accounting Matters.
(a) At
all
times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrative Trustees shall
keep,
or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States,
as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books
of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable
detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained
on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied.
(b) The
Administrative Trustees shall either (i) if the Depositor is then subject to
such reporting requirements, cause each Form 10-K and Form 10-Q prepared by
the
Depositor and filed with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act
to
be delivered to each Holder, with a copy to the Property Trustee, within thirty
(30) days after the filing thereof or (ii) cause to be prepared at the principal
office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury
Regulations section 301.7701-7, and delivered to each of the Holders, with
a
copy to the Property Trustee, within ninety (90) days after the end of each
Fiscal Year, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance
sheet
of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements
of
income or loss.
22
(c) The
Trust
shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the United States, as defined for
purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, in the name and for the
sole benefit of the Trust; provided,
however,
that
all payments of funds in respect of the Notes held by the Property Trustee
shall
be made directly to the Payment Account and no other funds of the Trust shall
be
deposited in the Payment Account. The sole signatories for such accounts
(including the Payment Account) shall be designated by the Property
Trustee.
ARTICLE
V.
Securities
SECTION
5.1. Initial
Ownership.
Upon
the
creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor referred to in
Section
2.3
and
until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no
Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial
owner of the Trust.
SECTION
5.2. Authorized
Trust Securities.
The
Trust
shall be authorized to issue one series of Preferred Securities having an
aggregate Liquidation Amount of thirty-seven million five hundred thousand
dollars ($37,500,000) and one series of Common Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
SECTION
5.3. Issuance
of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Notes.
On
the
Closing Date, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute
and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in
the
name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of 100 Common Securities having
an aggregate Liquidation Amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),
against receipt by the Trust of the aggregate purchase price of such Common
Securities of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Contemporaneously
therewith and with the sale by the Trust to the Holders of an aggregate of
thirty-seven thousand five hundred (37,500) Preferred Securities having an
aggregate Liquidation Amount of thirty-seven million five hundred thousand
dollars ($37,500,000), an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall
subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor Notes, to be registered in the
name of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate
principal amount equal to thirty-seven million six hundred thousand dollars
($37,600,000), and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Notes, the
Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the
sum
of thirty-seven million six hundred thousand dollars ($37,600,000) (being the
aggregate amount paid by the Holders for the Preferred Securities and the amount
paid by the Depositor for the Common Securities).
23
SECTION
5.4. The
Securities Certificates.
(a) The
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations
of
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) Liquidation Amount and integral
multiples of one thousand dollars ($1,000) in excess thereof, and the Common
Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of one thousand
dollars ($1,000) in excess thereof. The Securities Certificates shall be
executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least
one
Administrative Trustee. Securities Certificates bearing the signatures of
individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed,
authorized to sign such Securities Certificates on behalf of the Trust shall
be
validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be
so
authorized prior to the delivery of such Securities Certificates or did not
have
such authority at the date of delivery of such Securities
Certificates.
(b) On
the
Closing Date, upon the written order of an authorized officer of the Depositor,
the Administrative Trustees shall cause Securities Certificates to be executed
on behalf of the Trust and delivered, without further corporate action by the
Depositor, in authorized denominations.
(c) Preferred
Securities issued on the Closing Date to QIBs shall be issued as directed by
the
Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date, either (i) in the form of one or
more
Global Preferred Securities Certificates or (ii) in the form of one or more
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates. Global Preferred Securities shall
be, except as provided in Section 5.6,
Book-Entry Preferred Securities issued in the form of one or more Global
Preferred Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee
and deposited with the Depositary or the Property Trustee as custodian for
the
Depositary for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the
Depositary Participants thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct).
The
Preferred Securities issued to a Person other than a QIB shall be issued in
the
form of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates.
(d) A
Preferred Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee. Such signature
shall
be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Security has been authenticated under
this Trust Agreement. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one
Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
one
or more Preferred Security Certificates evidencing the Preferred Securities
for
original issue. The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that
is
a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Preferred Securities.
A Common Security need not be so authenticated and shall be valid upon execution
by one or more Administrative Trustees. The form of this certificate of
authentication can be found in Section 5.13.
(e) Upon
issuance of the Trust Securities as provided in this Trust Agreement, the Trust
Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and each Holder thereof shall be entitled to the benefits
provided by this Trust Agreement.
24
SECTION
5.5. Rights
of
Holders.
The
Trust
Securities shall have no, and the issuance of the Trust Securities is not
subject to, preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to
Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and
non-assessable by the Trust. Except as provided in Section
5.11(b),
the
Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled
to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private
corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the
State
of Delaware.
SECTION
5.6. Book-Entry
Preferred Securities.
(a) A
Global
Preferred Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the names of the Owners only
if
such exchange complies with Section
5.7
and (i)
the Depositary advises the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee
in
writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able properly to discharge
its responsibilities with respect to the Global Preferred Security, and no
qualified successor is appointed by the Administrative Trustees within ninety
(90) days of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Administrative Trustees fail
to
appoint a qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge
of
such event, (iii) the Administrative Trustees at their option advise the
Property Trustee in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry
system through the Depositary or (iv) a Note Event of Default has occurred
and
is continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) above, the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Depositary
and
instruct the Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities,
the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee of the occurrence of such event
and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates
to
Owners of the Preferred Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize
the
Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Holders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Preferred Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest in such Global
Preferred Security to a Person other than a QIB, such transfer shall be
effected, subject to the Applicable Depositary Procedures, in accordance with
the provisions of this Section
5.6
and
Section
5.7,
and the
transferee shall receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate in
connection with such transfer. A holder of a Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificate that is a QIB may, upon request, and in accordance with the
provisions of this Section
5.6
and
Section
5.7,
exchange such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate for a beneficial
interest in a Global Preferred Security.
(b) If
any
Global Preferred Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Preferred
Security, then either (i) such Global Preferred Security shall be so surrendered
for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article V
or (ii)
the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Global Preferred Security
shall be reduced, subject to Section
5.4,
or
increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by that
portion of the Global Preferred Security to be so exchanged or canceled, or
equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any Global Preferred Security,
as
the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records
of
the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance with
the
Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its
authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records.
Upon any such surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the Securities
Registrar of any Global Preferred Security or Securities by the Depositary,
accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any
one of them, shall execute the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates
in
accordance with the instructions of the Depositary, and the Property Trustee,
upon receipt thereof, shall authenticate and deliver such Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates. None of the Securities Registrar or the Trustees shall
be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively
rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such
instructions.
25
(c) Every
Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration of transfer
of,
or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Preferred Security or any portion
thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Preferred Security, unless such Securities Certificate is registered in the
name
of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security or
a
nominee thereof.
(d) The
Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Preferred Security,
shall be the Holder of such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under
this Trust Agreement and the Global Preferred Security, and Owners with respect
to a Global Preferred Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the
Applicable Depositary Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Trustees
shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Trust
Agreement relating to the Global Preferred Securities (including the payment
of
the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred
Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions
by
Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving
of
notices) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented
thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the
Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of
any
transfers effected by the Depositary.
(e) The
rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities shall be exercised
only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law,
the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and
the
Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided, that, solely for the
purpose of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Preferred
Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Trust Agreement, to
the
extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security,
the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying
on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Property Trustee
by the Depositary setting forth the Owners’ votes or assigning the right to vote
on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part. To the extent
that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the
Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the Depositary Participants
and
receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities that are represented
by a Global Preferred Security to such Depositary Participants, and none of
the
Depositor or the Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with
respect thereto.
(f) To
the
extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under
this Trust Agreement, for so long as Preferred Securities are represented by
a
Global Preferred Security, the Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the
Owners.
26
SECTION
5.7. Registration
of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
(a) The
Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the Corporate Trust Office,
a register or registers (the “Securities Register”) in which the registrar and
transfer agent with respect to the Trust Securities (the “Securities
Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall
provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common
Securities Certificates and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred
Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall at all
times also be the Securities Registrar. The provisions of Article
VIII
shall
apply to the Property Trustee in its role as Securities Registrar.
(b) Subject
to Section 5.7(d), upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred
Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to
Section
5.7(f),
the
Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile
signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and upon receipt thereof the
Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated
transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates
in
authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount as may be
required by this Trust Agreement dated the date of execution by such
Administrative Trustee or Trustees. At the option of a Holder, Preferred
Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations and of a like aggregate Liquidation
Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificate to be exchanged
at
the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.7(f).
Whenever any Preferred Securities Certificates are so surrendered for exchange,
the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or
facsimile signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and upon receipt
thereof the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Preferred
Securities Certificates that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
(c) The
Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register the transfer
of or exchange any Preferred Security during a period beginning at the opening
of business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of
such
Preferred Securities pursuant to Article
IV
and
ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of
redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred
Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case
of
any such Preferred Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not
to
be redeemed.
(d) Every
Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration
of
transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Securities Registrar duly
executed by the Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and
(i) if such Preferred Securities Certificate is being transferred otherwise
than
to a QIB, accompanied by a certificate of the transferee substantially in the
form set forth as Exhibit
E
hereto
or (ii) if such Preferred Securities Certificate is being transferred to a
QIB,
accompanied by a certificate of the transferor substantially in the form set
forth as Exhibit
F
hereto.
27
(e) No
service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of
Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Property Trustee on behalf of the
Trust may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of
Preferred Securities Certificates.
(f) The
Administrative Trustees shall designate an office or offices or agency or
agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange, and initially designate the Corporate
Trust Office as its office and agency for such purposes. The Administrative
Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Property Trustee
and to the Holders of any change in the location of any such office or
agency.
SECTION
5.8. Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates.
(a) If
any
mutilated Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities
Registrar together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the
Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees to save each of them
harmless, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the
Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery and, with respect to
Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate, in exchange
therefor a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and
denomination.
(b) If
the
Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Securities Certificate and there shall be
delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless,
then in the absence of notice that such Securities Certificate shall have been
acquired by a protected purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one
of
them, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery,
and, with respect to Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee shall
authenticate, in exchange for or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities Certificate, a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and
denomination.
(c) In
connection with the issuance of any new Securities Certificate under this
Section
5.8,
the
Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment
of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection therewith.
(d) Any
duplicate Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section
5.8
shall
constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the mutilated, lost, stolen
or
destroyed Securities Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or not the
lost, stolen or destroyed Securities Certificate shall be found at any
time.
(e) If
any
such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificate has become
or
is about to become due and payable, the Depositor in its discretion may, instead
of issuing a new Trust Security, pay such Trust Security.
(f) The
provisions of this Section
5.8
are
exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and
remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities Certificates.
28
(g) With
respect to Preferred Securities issued to QIBs in the form of one or more
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as provided in Section 5.4(c),
and
any subsequent transfers thereof, the Depositor and the Trust shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to make such Preferred Securities eligible
for
clearance and settlement as Book-Entry Preferred Securities through the
facilities of the Depositary and listed for trading through the PORTAL Market,
and will execute, deliver and comply with all representations made to, and
agreements with, the Depositary and the PORTAL Market in connection
therewith.
SECTION
5.9. Persons
Deemed Holders.
The
Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall each treat the Person in whose
name
any Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as
the
owner of the Trust Securities evidenced by such Securities Certificate for
the
purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and
none of the Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice
to the contrary.
SECTION
5.10. Cancellation.
All
Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered for registration of transfer
or
exchange or for payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the
Property Trustee, be delivered to the Property Trustee, and any such Preferred
Securities Certificates and Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered
directly to the Property Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled
by it. The Administrative Trustees may at any time deliver to the Property
Trustee for cancellation any Preferred Securities Certificates previously
delivered hereunder that the Administrative Trustees may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Preferred Securities Certificates so delivered shall
be promptly canceled by the Property Trustee. No Preferred Securities
Certificates shall be executed and delivered in lieu of or in exchange for
any
Preferred Securities Certificates canceled as provided in this Section
5.10,
except
as expressly permitted by this Trust Agreement. All canceled Preferred
Securities Certificates shall be disposed of by the Property Trustee in
accordance with its customary practices and the Property Trustee shall deliver
to the Administrative Trustees a certificate of such disposition.
SECTION
5.11. Ownership
of Common Securities by Depositor.
(a) On
the
Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter shall retain,
beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Neither the Depositor
nor any successor Holder of the Common Securities may transfer less than all
the
Common Securities, and the Depositor or any such successor Holder may transfer
the Common Securities only (i) in connection with a consolidation or merger
of
the Depositor into another Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by
the
Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person (in which event such Common Securities will be transferred to such
surviving entity, transferee or lessee, as the case may be), pursuant to
Section
8.1
of the
Indenture or (ii) to the Depositor or an Affiliate of the Depositor, in each
such case in compliance with applicable law (including the Securities Act,
and
applicable state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted
by law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities other than as set forth
in the immediately preceding sentence shall be void. The Administrative Trustees
shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to
contain a legend stating substantially “THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST
AGREEMENT.”
29
(b) Any
Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for the debts and obligations
of
the Trust in the manner and to the extent set forth herein with respect to
the
Depositor and agrees that it shall be subject to all liabilities to which the
Depositor may be subject and, prior to becoming such a Holder, shall deliver
to
the Administrative Trustees an instrument of assumption satisfactory to such
Trustees.
SECTION
5.12. Restricted
Legends.
(a) Each
Preferred Security Certificate shall bear a legend in substantially the
following form:
“[IF
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY INSERT:
THIS
PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TRUST
AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS
EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER
THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
TRUST
AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER
OF
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE
OF
DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC
TO
NORTHSTAR REALTY FINANCE TRUST VII
OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED
SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER
NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED
IN A
TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST
THEREIN, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF
SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF ANY
PREFERRED SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF
THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
30
THE
HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR THAT (A) SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES
MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST, (II)
TO A
PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER”
(AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, OR (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”
WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR
THE ACCOUNT OF AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)
(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH
ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND, IN THE CASE OF (III), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF
THE
TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ADDRESSING COMPLIANCE
WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES LAWS, AND OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF
THEM AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES
FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING
AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY
INTEREST THEREIN, IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS
THAN
$100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID
AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW,
ANY
SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH PREFERRED
SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF
LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF OR DISTRIBUTIONS ON SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY
INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO
INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
OR
THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO
TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED
(“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE
“CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN
ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON
INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS PREFERRED SECURITY
OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE
EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER SECTION 408(b)(17) OF ERISA, U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF
LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14
OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY,
OR
ANY INTEREST THEREIN, ARE NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION
4975
OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE AND HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER
OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR OTHER PLAN TO WHICH TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975
OF
THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE “PLAN
ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR
(ii) SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER
SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH FULL EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
IS NOT AVAILABLE UNDER AN APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXEMPTION.
31
(b) The
above
legend shall not be removed from any of the Preferred Securities Certificates
unless there is delivered to the Property Trustee and the Depositor satisfactory
evidence, which may include an Opinion of Counsel, as may be reasonably required
to ensure that any future transfers thereof may be made without restriction
under or violation of the provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable
law. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, one or more of the
Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver to
the
Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver,
at
the written direction of the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
Preferred Securities Certificates that do not bear the legend.
SECTION
5.13. Form
of
Certificate of Authentication.
The
Property Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the
following form:
This
represents Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust
Agreement.
Dated:
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity, but solely as Property
Trustee
By: ________________________________
Authorized
officer
|
32
ARTICLE
VI.
Meetings;
Voting; Acts of Holders
SECTION
6.1. Notice
of
Meetings.
Notice
of
all meetings of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, stating the time,
place
and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant
to
Section
11.8
to each
Holder of Preferred Securities, at such Holder’s registered address, at least
fifteen (15) days and not more than ninety (90) days before the meeting. At
any
such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered
whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may
be
held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION
6.2. Meetings
of Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(a) No
annual
meeting of Holders is required to be held. The Property Trustee, however, shall
call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote on any matter
upon the written request of the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%)
in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities and the
Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their
discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote
on
any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
(b) The
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) If
a
quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders present,
in
person or by proxy, holding Preferred Securities representing at least a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities held by the Holders
present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the
action of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, unless this Trust Agreement
requires a lesser or greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION
6.3. Voting
Rights.
Holders
shall be entitled to one vote for each $10,000 of Liquidation Amount represented
by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which
such
Holders are entitled to vote.
33
SECTION
6.4. Proxies,
Etc.
At
any
meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy,
provided, that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have
been
placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer
or
agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification
prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution
of
the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property
Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Holders of record
shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several
Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in
respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present
at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies
so
present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received
in
respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on
behalf of a Holder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its
exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
No
proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of
execution.
SECTION
6.5. Holder
Action by Written Consent.
Any
action that may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting
and without prior notice if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of all Preferred Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action
(or such lesser or greater proportion thereof as shall be required by any other
provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing;
provided, that notice of such action is promptly provided to the Holders of
Preferred Securities that did not consent to such action. Any action that may
be
taken by the Holders of all the Common Securities may be taken without a meeting
and without prior notice if such Holders shall consent to the action in
writing.
SECTION
6.6. Record
Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
Except
as
provided in Section
6.10(a),
for the
purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice of and to vote
at
any meeting or to act by written consent, or to participate in any distribution
on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise
provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action,
the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than
ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or the payment
of a
Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the
determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such
purposes.
SECTION
6.7. Acts
of
Holders.
(a) Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken
by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
thereof duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments
are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments
(and
the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred
to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of
execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent
shall
be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and conclusive in favor
of
the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section
6.7.
34
(b) The
fact
and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may
be
proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate
of a
notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of
deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing
acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer
acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing,
or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner that any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
(c) The
ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
(d) Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
Act
of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder of the same
Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
in
respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees, the
Administrative Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
(e) Without
limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder
with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or
any
part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
(f) If
any
dispute shall arise among the Holders or the Trustees with respect to the
authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder or Trustee under
this Article
VI,
then
the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive
with respect to such matter.
SECTION
6.8. Inspection
of Records.
Upon
reasonable written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by any Holder
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder’s
interest as a Holder.
SECTION
6.9. Limitations
on Voting Rights.
(a) Except
as
expressly provided in this Trust Agreement and in the Indenture and as otherwise
required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to
vote
or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management
of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein
set forth, or contained in the terms of the Securities Certificates, be
construed so as to constitute the Holders from time to time as partners or
members of an association.
35
(b) So
long
as any Notes are held by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the
Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Note Trustee, or exercise any
trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the Notes,
(ii)
waive any past default that may be waived under Section
5.13
of the
Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that
the
principal of all the Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Notes, where
such
consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval
of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities; provided, that where a consent under the Indenture would require
the
consent of each holder of Notes (or each Holder of Preferred Securities)
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without
the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Property
Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a
vote
of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of
the
Holders of the Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing
approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of
the
foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense of the Depositor,
obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that
such
action shall not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified
as
other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
(c) If
any
proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees
otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect in
any
material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred
Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise
or
(ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than
pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding
Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment
or
proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with
the
approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result
of
such amendment, it would cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
SECTION
6.10. Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past Defaults.
(a) For
so
long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Note Event
of
Default, the Note Trustee fails or the holders of not less than twenty-five
percent (25%) in principal amount of the outstanding Notes fail to declare
the
principal of all of the Notes to be immediately due and payable, the Holders
of
at least twenty-five percent (25%) in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by
a
notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has
been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has
been
obtained by the Note Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of at
least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written
notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee, may rescind
and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
36
(i) the
Depositor has paid or deposited with the Note Trustee a sum sufficient to
pay:
(A) all
overdue installments of interest on all of the Notes;
(B) any
accrued Additional Interest on all of the Notes;
(C) the
principal of and premium, if any, on any Notes that have become due otherwise
than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest
thereon at the rate borne by the Notes; and
(D) all
sums
paid or advanced by the Note Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Note Trustee, the
Property Trustee and their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all
Note
Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes
that
has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section
5.13
of the
Indenture.
Upon
receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice requesting such an
acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of
the
Preferred Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders
of Outstanding Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which
record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee
receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated
proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice,
whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided,
that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment,
as
the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite
percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is ninety (90)
days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or
rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without
further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing
in
this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving,
after expiration of such ninety (90)-day period, a new written notice of
declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case
may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant
to
the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall
be
established pursuant to the provisions of this Section
6.10(a).
(b) For
so
long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the fullest extent
permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement and the
Indenture, upon a Note Event of Default specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of
Section
5.1
of the
Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute
a proceeding directly against the Depositor or the Guarantor, pursuant to
Section
5.8
of the
Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of any amounts payable
in
respect of Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder. Except as set
forth in Section 6.10(a)
and this
Section
6.10(b),
the
Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise directly any
right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the
Notes.
37
(c) Notwithstanding
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
6.10,
the
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any Note
Event of Default, except any Note Event of Default arising from the failure
to
pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest on (including any
Additional Interest) the Notes (unless such Note Event of Default has been
cured
and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and all
principal and premium, if any, on all Notes due otherwise than by acceleration
has been deposited with the Note Trustee) or a Note Event of Default in respect
of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or
amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note. Upon any
such waiver, such Note Event of Default shall cease to exist and any Note Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every
purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall affect any subsequent Note
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) Notwithstanding
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
6.10
and
subject to paragraph (c), the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the
Preferred Securities, waive any Event of Default and its consequences. Upon
such
waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of
this
Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(e) The
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities shall
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Property Trustee in respect of this Trust
Agreement or the Notes or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement; provided, that, subject to
Sections
8.5
and
8.7,
the
Property Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction
if
the Property Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so
directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Property Trustee in good faith
shall, by an officer or officers of the Property Trustee, determine that the
proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability
or
be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not party to such direction,
and
provided, further, that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall impair the right
of the Property Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Property Trustee
and which is not inconsistent with such direction.
38
ARTICLE
VII.
Representations
and Warranties
SECTION
7.1. Representations
and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
The
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and
as to
itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor, the
Guarantor and the Holders that:
(a) the
Property Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of
Delaware;
(b) the
Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken
all
necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it
of
this Trust Agreement;
(c) the
Delaware Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation, duly organized with trust
powers, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and with its principal place of business in the State of
Delaware;
(d) the
Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken
all
necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it
of
this Trust Agreement;
(e) this
Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee enforceable
against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally
and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless
of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(f) the
execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of
stockholders of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and such
execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Charter or By-laws
of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or (ii) violate any applicable
law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of
Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking and trust powers of the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any order, judgment or decree
applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) neither
the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions
by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein requires
the
consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the
taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency
under any existing law of the United States or the State of Delaware governing
the banking and trust powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
as
the case may be; and
39
(h) to
the
best of each of the Property Trustee’s and the Delaware Trustee’s knowledge,
there are no proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental
authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that, individually or in
the
aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question
the
right, power and authority of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
as
the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees
under this Trust Agreement.
SECTION
7.2. Representations
and Warranties of Depositor.
The
Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Holders
that:
(a) the
Depositor is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in
good
standing under the laws of its state of organization;
(b) the
Depositor has full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary
action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust
Agreement;
(c) this
Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Depositor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Depositor enforceable against the Depositor in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;
(d) the
Securities Certificates issued at the Closing Date on behalf of the Trust have
been duly authorized and will have been duly and validly executed, issued and
delivered by the applicable Trustees pursuant to the terms and provisions of,
and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust Agreement and the Holders
will be, as of such date, entitled to the benefits of this Trust
Agreement;
(e) the
execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Depositor and do not
require any approval of equity owners of the Depositor and such execution,
delivery and performance will not (i) violate the organizational documents
of
the Depositor or (ii) violate any applicable law, governmental rule or
regulation governing the Depositor or any material portion of its property
or
any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Depositor or any material
portion of its property;
(f) neither
the authorization, execution or delivery by the Depositor of this Trust
Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Depositor
contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice
to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to
any
governmental authority or agency under any existing law governing the Depositor
or any material portion of its property; and
(g) there
are
no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Depositor’s knowledge, threatened
against or affecting the Depositor or any material portion of its property
in
any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board
or
tribunal that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely
affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the
Depositor, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations under
this Trust Agreement.
40
ARTICLE
VIII.
The
Trustees
SECTION
8.1. Number
of
Trustees.
The
number of Trustees shall be five (5), provided, that the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person, in which case the number of
Trustees shall be four (4). The number of Trustees may be increased or decreased
by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities subject to Sections
8.2,
8.3,
and
8.4.
The
death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity
to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul, dissolve or
terminate the Trust.
SECTION
8.2. Property
Trustee Required.
There
shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust
Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, authorized
to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of
at
least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), subject to supervision or examination
by federal or state authority and having an office within the United States.
If
any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to
law
or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for
the
purposes of this Section 8.2,
the
combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.2,
it
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified
in this Article
VIII.
SECTION
8.3. Delaware
Trustee Required.
(a) If
required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, there shall at all times be a
Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee
shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a
resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity that has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware, otherwise meets the requirements
of
applicable Delaware law and shall act through one or more persons authorized
to
bind such entity. If at any time the Delaware Trustee shall cease to be eligible
in accordance with the provisions of this Section
8.3,
it
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified
in this Article
VIII.
(b) The
Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the
Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property
Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee
shall be one of the trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose
of
fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act
and for taking such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee
under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The duties (including fiduciary duties),
liabilities and obligations of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to (a)
accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (b)
the
execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware that the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under
Section 3811 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and there shall be no other
duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at
law
or in equity, of the Delaware Trustee.
41
SECTION
8.4. Appointment
of Administrative Trustees.
(a) There
shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect
to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural
person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through
one or more persons authorized to bind that entity. Each of the individuals
identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in the preamble of this Trust
Agreement hereby accepts his or her appointment as such.
(b) Except
where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrative Trustees
is expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement, any act required or permitted
to
be taken by, and any power of the Administrative Trustees may be exercised
by,
or with the consent of, any one such Administrative Trustee. Whenever a vacancy
in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is
filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with
Section
8.11,
the
Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all
the
powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties
imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
SECTION
8.5. Duties
and Responsibilities of the Trustees.
(a) The
rights, immunities, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as
provided by this Trust Agreement and there shall be no other duties (including
fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity,
of
the Trustees; provided, however, that if an Event of Default known to the
Property Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall,
prior to the receipt of directions, if any, from the Holders of at least a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, exercise such of
the
rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree
of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall
require any of the Trustees to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder,
or in
the exercise of any of its or their rights or powers, if it or they shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate
indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Whether or not herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust
Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section
8.5.
To the
extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee’s duties may be restricted
or eliminated by the provisions in this Trust Agreement, except that this Trust
Agreement may not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith
and
fair dealing. A Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or a Holder or another
Person that is party to or is otherwise bound by this Trust Agreement for breach
of fiduciary duty if the Trustee has relied in good faith on the provisions
of
this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent
that
they limit or eliminate the liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing
at
law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Holders to replace such
other liabilities of the Trustees, except that no provision of this Trust
Agreement may limit or eliminate liability for any act or omission that
constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good
faith and fair dealing.
42
(b) All
payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust
Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust
Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or
proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying
Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by
its
acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue
and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for
distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally
liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security
or
for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section
8.5(b)
does not
limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust
Agreement.
(c) No
provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Property
Trustee from liability with respect to matters that are within the authority
of
the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement for its own negligent action,
negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:
(i) the
Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good
faith by an authorized officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts;
(ii) the
Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted
to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders
of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Property Trustee hereunder or under the Indenture,
or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this
Trust Agreement;
(iii) the
Property Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and
physical preservation of the Notes and the Payment Account shall be to deal
with
such Property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar
property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on
liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust
Agreement;
(iv) the
Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received
by
it; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other
funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account maintained by the
Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise
required by law; and
43
(v) the
Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by
the
Administrative Trustees, the Guarantor or the Depositor with their respective
duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable
for
the default or misconduct of any other Trustee, the Guarantor or the
Depositor.
SECTION
8.6. Notices
of Defaults and Extensions.
(a) Within
ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default actually known to the
Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of such default
to
the Holders, the Administrative Trustees, the Guarantor and the Depositor,
unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, that, except
in
the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Trust Security, the Property
Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as
the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Property Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders of the Trust Securities. For the purpose of this Section
8.6,
the
term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default.
(b) RESERVED.
(c) The
Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default or Event
of Default unless the Property Trustee shall have received written notice
thereof from the Depositor, the Guarantor, any Administrative Trustee or any
Holder or unless a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee shall have
obtained actual knowledge of such default or Event of Default.
(d) The
Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any
notice of default received with respect to the Notes.
SECTION
8.7. Certain
Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject
to the provisions of Section
8.5:
(a) the
Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof
upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation
of
a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness
or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed
or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) if
(i) in
performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is
required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing
any
of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds a provision
ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii)
the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this
Trust
Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of the
Preferred Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust
Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor
requesting the Depositor’s written instruction as to the course of action to be
taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking
such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take,
or
to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, that if the Property Trustee
does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten (10) Business
Days after it has delivered such notice or such reasonably shorter period of
time set forth in such notice, the Property Trustee may, but shall be under
no
duty to, take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property
Trustee shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which
event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct;
44
(c) any
direction or act of the Depositor or the Guarantor contemplated by this Trust
Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate unless
otherwise expressly provided herein;
(d) any
direction or act of an Administrative Trustee contemplated by this Trust
Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certificate executed by such
Administrative Trustee and setting forth such direction or act;
(e) the
Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or
registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation
statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any re-recording,
re-filing or re-registration thereof;
(f) the
Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to
the
Property Trustee, the Depositor or the Guarantor or any of the Depositor’s or
the Guarantor’s Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice
of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith
and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Property Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(g) the
Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or
powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of
any
of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Holders shall
have
offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction, including reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property
Trustee;
(h) the
Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts
or
matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture,
note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless
requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Property Trustee
may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as
it
may see fit, and, if the Property Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry
or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and
premises of the Depositor, personally or by agent or attorney;
45
(i) the
Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform
any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, attorneys,
custodians or nominees and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
any
negligence or misconduct on the part of any such agent, attorney, custodian
or
nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(j) whenever
in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem
it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right
hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders
(which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion
in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement in respect of such remedy, right
or
action), (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such
other action until such instructions are received and (iii) shall be protected
in acting in accordance with such instructions;
(k) except
as
otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee
shall
not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under
the
provisions of this Trust Agreement;
(l) without
prejudice to any other rights available to the Property Trustee under applicable
law, when the Property Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection
with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including legal fees and expenses of
its
agents and counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to
constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law or law relating
to creditors rights generally; and
(m) whenever
in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem
it
desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering
or
omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence
be
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and rely on an Officer’s Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor.
No
provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on any Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right,
power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in
which it shall be illegal, or in which such Person shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts,
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.
SECTION
8.8. Delegation
of Power.
Any
Trustee may, by power of attorney or otherwise, delegate to any other Person
its, his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated
in
Section
2.5.
The
Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number
or to the Depositor the doing of such things and the execution of such
instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or
otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation
is
not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust
Agreement.
46
SECTION
8.9. May
Hold
Securities.
Any
Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or
any
other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and except
as provided in the definition of the term “Outstanding” in Article
I,
may
otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were
not
a Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION
8.10. Compensation;
Reimbursement; Indemnity.
The
Depositor agrees:
(a) to
pay to
the Trustees from time to time such reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by them hereunder as may be agreed by the Depositor and the Trustees
from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision
of
law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust);
(b) to
reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements
and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision
of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses
and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct; and
(c) to
the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless
(i)
each Trustee (including in its individual capacity), (ii) any Affiliate of
any
Trustee, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative
or
agent of any Trustee or any Affiliate of any Trustee and (iv) any employee
or
agent of the Trust (referred to herein as an “Indemnified Person”) from and
against any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other
taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to Section
8.10(a)
or
(b)
hereof),
penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or
in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust hereunder,
including the advancement of funds to cover the reasonable costs and expenses
of
defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise
or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
The
Trust
shall have no payment, reimbursement or indemnity obligations to the Trustees
under this Section
8.10.
The
provisions of this Section
8.10
shall
survive the termination of this Trust Agreement and the earlier removal or
resignation of any Trustee.
No
Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property whether before or after
termination of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this
Section
8.10.
To
the
fullest extent permitted by law, in no event shall the Property Trustee and
the
Delaware Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost
profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss
or
damage and regardless of the form of action.
In
no
event shall the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee be liable for any
failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of
circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God,
flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo,
government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental
action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the
services contemplated by this Trust Agreement.
47
SECTION
8.11. Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No
resignation or removal of any Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee
pursuant to this Article
VIII
shall
become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee
in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section
8.12.
(b) A
Trustee
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor and,
in
the case of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, to the
Holders.
(c) Unless
an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee
or
the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause)
at
any time by Act of the Holder of Common Securities. If an Event of Default
shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause) at such time by Act
of
the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities, delivered to the removed Trustee (in its individual capacity and
on
behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may be removed (with or without
cause) only by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities at any
time.
(d) If
any
Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Trustee,
or if
a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any reason, at a time
when no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder
of
the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities, shall
promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee
and
the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of
Section
8.12.
If the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
as the case may be, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred
and
be continuing, the Holders of the Preferred Securities, by Act of the Holders
of
a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, shall promptly
appoint a successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee, and such successor
Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee and the retiring Property Trustee or
Delaware Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section
8.12.
If an
Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting
as
Administrative Trustee, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities by Act of the Holder
of
Common Securities shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative Trustee
and
such successor Administrative Trustee and the retiring Administrative Trustee
shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section
8.12.
If no
successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holder of the Common
Securities or Holders of the Preferred Securities, as the case may be, and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section
8.12
within
thirty (30) days after the giving of a notice of resignation by a Trustee,
the
removal of a Trustee, or a Trustee becoming incapable of acting as such Trustee,
any Holder who has been a Holder of Preferred Securities for at least six (6)
months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, and any
resigning Trustee may, in each case, at the expense of the Depositor, petition
any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
48
(e) The
Depositor shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and each appointment of a successor Property
Trustee or Delaware Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in
Section
10.8.
Each
notice shall include the name of the successor Property Trustee or Delaware
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.
(f) Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event
any
Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or
becomes, in the opinion of the Holder of Common Securities, incompetent or
incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may
be filled by (i) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees
if
there are at least two of them or (ii) otherwise by the Holder of the Common
Securities (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the
eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as
the
case may be, set forth in Sections
8.3
and
8.4).
(g) Upon
the
appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee, such successor Delaware Trustee
shall file a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Trust in accordance
with Section 3810 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
SECTION
8.12. Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In
case
of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each successor Trustee
shall execute and deliver to the Depositor and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request
of
the Trust or any successor Trustee such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment
of
its charges, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
(b) Upon
request of any such successor Trustee, the Trust (or the retiring Trustee if
requested by the Depositor) shall execute any and all instruments for more
fully
and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such
rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(c) No
successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such
acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this
Article
VIII.
SECTION
8.13. Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any
Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged
or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from
any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party,
or
any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder, without
the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, provided, that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and
eligible under this Article
VIII.
49
SECTION
8.14. Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The
recitals contained herein and in the Securities Certificates shall be taken
as
the statements of the Trust and the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume
any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations
as to the title to, or value or condition of, the property of the Trust or
any
part thereof, nor as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement,
the
Notes or the Trust Securities. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the
use
or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Notes.
SECTION
8.15. Property
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
(a) In
case
of any Bankruptcy Event (or event that with the passage of time would become
a
Bankruptcy Event) relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust
Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions
on
the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable and irrespective of whether
the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Trust for the payment
of
any past due Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise:
(i) to
file
and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions owing and unpaid
in
respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other papers or documents
as
may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Property
Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel)
and
of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to
collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on
any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and
any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder
to
make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the Property
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders,
to
pay to the Property Trustee first any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee,
its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
(b) Nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property Trustee to authorize
or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or compensation affecting the Trust
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Property
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
50
SECTION
8.16. Reports
to and from the Property Trustee.
(a) The
Depositor, the Guarantor and the Administrative Trustees shall deliver to the
Property Trustee, not later than forty five (45) days after the end of each
of
the first three fiscal quarters of the Depositor and the Guarantor and not
later
than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor and
the
Guarantor ending after the date of this Trust Agreement, an Officer’s
Certificate (substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
H)
covering the preceding fiscal period, stating whether or not to the knowledge
of
the signers thereof the Depositor, the Guarantor, the Administrative Trustees
or
the Trust are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Trust Agreement (without regard to any period
of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Depositor,
the
Guarantor, the Administrative Trustees or the Trust shall be in default,
specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they
have knowledge.
(b) The
Depositor and the Guarantor shall furnish to (i) the Property Trustee, (ii)
the
Purchaser, (iii) any Owner of the Preferred Securities reasonably identified
to
the Depositor, the Guarantor or the Trust (which identification may be made
either by such Owner or by the Purchaser) and (iv) any designee of (i), (ii)
or
(iii) above, a duly completed and executed certificate in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit G, including the financial statements referenced in such
Exhibit, which certificate and financial statements shall be so furnished by
the
Depositor and the Guarantor not later than forty five (45) days after the end
of
each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Depositor
and
the Guarantor and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal
year of the Depositor and the Guarantor.
(c) The
Property Trustee shall receive all reports, certificates and information, which
it is entitled to obtain under each of the Operative Documents, and deliver
to
(i) the Purchaser, or a designee thereof, as identified in writing to the
Property Trustee, copies of all such reports, certificates or information
promptly upon receipt thereof.
ARTICLE
IX.
Termination,
Liquidation and Merger
SECTION
9.1. Dissolution
Upon Expiration Date.
Unless
earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on April 30, 2042
(the
“Expiration Date”), and the Trust Property shall be liquidated in accordance
with Section
9.4.
SECTION
9.2. Early
Termination.
The
first
to occur of any of the following events is an “Early Termination Event”, upon
the occurrence of which the Trust shall be dissolved:
(a) the
occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution or
liquidation of, the Depositor, in its capacity as the Holder of the Common
Securities, unless the Depositor shall have transferred the Common Securities
as
provided by Section
5.11,
in
which case this provision shall refer instead to any such successor Holder
of
the Common Securities;
51
(b) the
written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the Common
Securities at any time to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of any
liabilities of the Trust as required by applicable law, to distribute the Notes
to Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities (which direction is optional
and wholly within the discretion of the Holder of the Common
Securities).
(c) the
redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in connection with the payment
at
maturity or redemption of all the Notes; and
(d) the
entry
of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
SECTION
9.3. Termination.
The
respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust shall
terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by
the
Property Trustee to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder
upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section
9.4,
or upon
the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2;
(b) the
satisfaction of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all
administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance
of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the
Holders.
SECTION
9.4. Liquidation.
(a) If
an
Early Termination Event specified in Section
9.2(a),
(b)
or
(d)
occurs
or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Property
Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee shall determine to be possible
by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust
as
provided by applicable law, to each Holder a Like Amount of Notes, subject
to
Section
9.4(d).
Notice
of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee not less than thirty
(30)
nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder
of
Trust Securities at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register.
All such notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state
the
Liquidation Date;
(ii) state
that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer
be
deemed to be Outstanding and (subject to Section
9.4(d))
any
Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent
a Like Amount of Notes; and
(iii) provide
such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange
Securities Certificates for Notes, or if Section
9.4(d)
applies,
receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Property Trustee shall deem
appropriate.
(b) Except
where Section
9.2(c)
or
9.4(d)
applies,
in order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Notes
to
Holders, the Property Trustee, either itself acting as exchange agent or through
the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish a record date
for
such distribution (which shall not be more than forty-five (45) days prior
to
the Liquidation Date nor prior to the date on which notice of such liquidation
is given to the Holders) and establish such procedures as it shall deem
appropriate to effect the distribution of Notes in exchange for the Outstanding
Securities Certificates.
52
(c) Except
where Section
9.2(c)
or
9.4(d)
applies,
after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed
to
be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Notes will
be
issued to Holders of Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
Certificates to the exchange agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall
use
its best efforts to have the Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or
on
such other exchange, interdealer quotation system or self-regulatory
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv)
Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to
represent a Like Amount of Notes bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an
amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions on such Securities
Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such
certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will
be
made to Holders of Securities Certificates with respect to such Notes) and
(v)
all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right
of
such Holders to receive Notes upon surrender of Securities
Certificates.
(d) Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Section
9.4,
if
distribution of the Notes in the manner provided herein is determined by the
Property Trustee not to be permitted or practical, the Trust Property shall
be
liquidated, and the Trust shall be wound up by the Property Trustee in such
manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event, Holders will be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution
to
Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided
by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security
plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such
amount being the “Liquidation Distribution”). If, upon any such winding up the
Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has
insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable
by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based
upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled
to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such winding up pro rata (based
upon Liquidation Amounts) with Holders of all Trust Securities, except that,
if
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities
shall have a priority over the Common Securities as provided in Section
4.3.
SECTION
9.5. Mergers,
Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust.
The
Trust
may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to, any Person except pursuant to this Article
IX.
At the
request of the Holders of the Common Securities, without the consent of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or into,
consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as
such
under the laws of any State; provided, that:
(a) such
successor entity either (i) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the
Trust under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities or
(ii) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having
substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (such other Securities,
the “Successor Securities”) so long as the Successor Securities have the same
priority as the Preferred Securities with respect to distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
53
(b) a
trustee
of such successor entity possessing substantially the same powers and duties
as
the Property Trustee is appointed to hold the Notes;
(c) if
the
Preferred Securities or the Notes are rated, such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Preferred Securities or the Notes (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that
then assigns a rating to the Preferred Securities or the Notes;
(d) the
Preferred Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed
upon
notice of issuance, on any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation
system on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any;
(e) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material
respect;
(f) such
successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
Trust;
(g) prior
to
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer
or
lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that
(i)
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer
or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in
any
material respect; (ii) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor
entity will be required to register as an “investment company” under the
Investment Company Act and (iii) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the
successor entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S.
federal income tax purposes; and
(h) the
Depositor or its permitted transferee owns all of the common securities of
such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under
the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the
Indenture.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of all
of
the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to any other Person or permit any other entity to consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace, the Trust if such consolidation,
amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause
the
Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified
as
other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or
cause the Notes to be treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for
United States federal income tax purposes.
54
ARTICLE
X.
Information
to Purchaser
SECTION
10.1. Depositor
Obligations to Purchaser.
Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, the Depositor and the Guarantor shall furnish to
(a)
the Purchaser, (b) any Owner of the Preferred Securities reasonably identified
to the Depositor, the Guarantor, or the Trust (which identification may be
made
either by such Owner or by the Purchaser) and (c) any designee of (a) or (b)
above, copies of all correspondence, notices, forms, filings, reports and other
documents required to be provided by the Depositor or the Guarantor, whether
acting through an Administrative Trustee or otherwise, to the Property Trustee
or Delaware Trustee under this Trust Agreement.
SECTION
10.2. Property
Trustee’s Obligations to Purchaser.
Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, the Property Trustee shall furnish to the Purchaser,
and any a designee thereof as identified in writing to the Property Trustee,
copies of all (i) correspondence, notices, forms, filings, reports and other
documents received by the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee from the
Depositor, whether acting through an Administrative Trustee or otherwise, under
this Trust Agreement, and (ii) all correspondence, notices, forms, filings,
reports and other documents required to be provided to the Depositor or a Holder
by the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee under this Trust
Agreement.
ARTICLE
XI.
Miscellaneous
Provisions
SECTION
11.1. Limitation
of Rights of Holders.
Except
as
set forth in Section
9.2,
the
death, bankruptcy, termination, dissolution or incapacity of any Person having
an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate
to
terminate this Trust Agreement, nor annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust
nor
entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Holder for
such
Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in
any
court for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby,
nor
otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto
or any of them.
SECTION
11.2. Agreed
Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities.
The
parties hereto and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Trust Security or
a
beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a
beneficial interest in, such Trust Security intend and agree to treat the Trust
as a grantor trust for United States federal, state and local tax purposes,
and
to treat the Trust Securities (including all payments and proceeds with respect
to such Trust Securities) as undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
Trust Property (and payments and proceeds therefrom, respectively) for United
States federal, state and local tax purposes and to treat the Notes as
indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal, state and local tax
purposes. The provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be interpreted to further
this intention and agreement of the parties.
55
SECTION
11.3. Amendment.
(a) This
Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Property Trustee, the
Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all the Common Securities, without
the
consent of any Holder of the Preferred Securities, (i) to cure any ambiguity,
correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provision herein, or to make or amend any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall
not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, (ii)
to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such
extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will neither be taxable
as
a corporation nor be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes at all times that any Trust Securities are
Outstanding or to ensure that the Notes are treated as indebtedness of the
Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes, or to ensure that
the
Trust will not be required to register as an “investment company” under the
Investment Company Act or (iii) to add to the covenants, restrictions or
obligations of the Depositor; provided, that in the case of clauses (i), (ii)
or
(iii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of any Holder.
(b) Except
as
provided in Section
11.3(c),
any
provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Property Trustee, the
Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all of the Common Securities and
with
(i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of
the
Preferred Securities and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the
Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not cause the Trust to be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes or affect the treatment of the Notes as
indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes
or
affect the Trust’s exemption from status (or from any requirement to register)
as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
(c) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each Holder,
this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the accrual rate, amount,
currency or timing of any Distribution on or the redemption price of the Trust
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution or
other
payment required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified
date, (ii) restrict or impair the right of a Holder to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, (iii) reduce the
percentage of aggregate Liquidation Amount of Outstanding Preferred Securities,
the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, or the consent
of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision
of
this Trust Agreement or of defaults hereunder and their consequences provided
for in this Trust Agreement; (iv) impair or adversely affect the rights and
interests of the Holders in the Trust Property, or permit the creation of any
Lien on any portion of the Trust Property; or (v) modify the definition of
“Outstanding,” this Section
11.3(c),
Sections
4.1,
4.2,
4.3,
6.10(e)
or
Article
IX.
56
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or
consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement that would cause the Trust
to
be taxable as a corporation or to be classified as other than a grantor trust
for United States federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Notes
to
fail or cease to be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Trust to fail or cease
to
qualify for the exemption from status (or from any requirement to register)
as
an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
(e) If
any
amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees or the
Property Trustee shall promptly provide to the Depositor and the Note Trustee
a
copy of such amendment.
(f) No
Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement
that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement.
The Trustees shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance
with this Trust Agreement and all conditions precedent herein provided for
relating to such action have been met.
(g) No
amendment or modification to this Trust Agreement that adversely affects in
any
material respect the rights, duties, liabilities, indemnities or immunities
of
the Delaware Trustee hereunder shall be permitted without the prior written
consent of the Delaware Trustee.
SECTION
11.4. Separability.
If
any
provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Securities Certificates shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby,
and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal
and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at
issue.
SECTION
11.5. Governing
Law.
THIS
TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE HOLDERS, THE
TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
ITS
CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
SECTION
11.6. Successors.
This
Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any
successor to the Depositor, the Guarantor, the Trust and any Trustee, including
any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a transaction
involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article
VIII
of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the
Depositor’s obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its
obligations hereunder.
57
SECTION
11.7. Headings.
The
Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect
the
construction of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION
11.8. Reports,
Notices and Demands.
(a) Any
report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this
Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any
Holder, the Depositor or the Guarantor may be given or served in writing
delivered in person, or by reputable, overnight courier, by telecopy or by
deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail,
addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Preferred Securities, to such Holder
as such Holder’s name and address may appear on the Securities Register; (b) in
the case of the Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, to
NorthStar Realty Finance Limited Partnership c/o NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or to such other address
as may be specified in a written notice by the Holder of all the Common
Securities or the Depositor, as the case may be, to the Property Trustee; and
(c) in the case of the Guarantor, to NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or to such other address
as may be specified in a written notice by the Guarantor to the Property
Trustee. Such report, notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder,
the Depositor or the Guarantor shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, within one (1) Business Day following delivery by overnight courier,
when telecopied with receipt confirmed, or within three (3) Business Days
following delivery by mail, except that if a notice or other document is refused
delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice
was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered
on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
(b) Any
notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust
Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Property
Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees or the Trust shall
be
given in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the U.S.
mail, personal delivery or facsimile transmission, addressed to such Person
as
follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
to
Wilmington Trust Company, Xxxxxx Square North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Corporate Capital Markets, facsimile
no. (000) 000-0000; (b) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them
at
the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked “Attention:
Administrative Trustees of NorthStar Realty Finance Trust VII,” and (c) with
respect to the Trust, to its principal executive office specified in
Section
2.2,
with a
copy to the Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to
or
upon the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be
deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of
the
writing by the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees.
SECTION
11.9. Agreement
Not to Petition.
Each
of
the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the Holders that, until
at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance
with Article
IX,
they
shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under
any
Bankruptcy Law or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against
the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. If the Depositor takes action in violation
of this Section
11.9,
the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of
the
Depositor, it shall file an answer with the applicable bankruptcy court or
otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against
the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the
Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped
and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the
Property Trustee or the Trust may assert.
58
This
instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed
signature page of this instrument by facsimile transmission shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
[REMAINDER
OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
59
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
NorthStar
Realty Finance Limited Partnership,
as
Depositor
|
|||
By:
|
NorthStar
Realty Finance Corp., its
General
Partner
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
|
||
By:
|
NorthStar
Realty Finance Corp.,
as
Guarantor
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
|
||
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee |
NorthStar
Realty Finance Trust VII
|
||
By:
|
/s/
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, II
Name:
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, II
Title:
Assistant Vice President
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Administrative
Trustee
|
|
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee |
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. XxXxxxxx
Administrative
Trustee
|
||
By:
|
/s/
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, II
Name:
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, II
Title:
Assistant Vice President
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Administrative
Trustee
|