AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT among FLAG FINANCIAL CORPORATION, as Depositor WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Property Trustee WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Delaware Trustee and THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN as Administrative Trustees...
EXHIBIT
4.3
AMENDED
AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
among
FLAG
FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
as
Depositor
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Property Trustee
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Delaware Trustee
and
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
as
Administrative Trustees
________________
Dated
as
of July 18, 2005
FLAG
FINANCIAL STATUTORY TRUST II
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Defined
Terms
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1
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Definitions
|
1
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The
Trust
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11
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Name
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11
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Office
of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business
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11
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Initial
Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses
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11
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Purposes
of Trust
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11
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Authorization
to Enter into Certain Transactions
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12
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Assets
of Trust
|
14
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Title
to Trust Property
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15
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Payment
Account; Paying Agents
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15
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Payment
Account
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15
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Appointment
of Paying Agents
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15
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Distributions;
Redemption
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16
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Distributions
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16
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Redemption
|
17
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Subordination
of Common Securities
|
20
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Payment
Procedures
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20
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Withholding
Tax
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21
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Tax
Returns and Other Reports
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21
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Payment
of Taxes, Duties, Etc of the Trust
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22
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Payments
under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions
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22
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Exchanges
|
22
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Calculation
Agent
|
22
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Certain
Accounting Matters
|
23
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Securities
|
24
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Initial
Ownership
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24
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Authorized
Trust Securities
|
24
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Issuance
of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of
Notes
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24
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The
Securities Certificates
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24
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Rights
of Holders
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25
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Book-Entry
Preferred Securities
|
25
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Registration
of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates
|
27
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Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates
|
28
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Persons
Deemed Holders
|
29
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Cancellation
|
29
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Ownership
of Common Securities by Depositor
|
30
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Restricted
Legends
|
30
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Form
of Certificate of Authentication
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33
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Meetings;
Voting; Acts of Holders
|
33
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Notice
of Meetings
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33
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Meetings
of Holders of the Preferred Securities
|
34
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Voting
Rights
|
34
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Proxies,
Etc
|
34
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Holder
Action by Written Consent
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34
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Record
Date for Voting and Other Purposes
|
35
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Acts
of Holders
|
35
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Inspection
of Records
|
36
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|||
Limitations
on Voting Rights
|
36
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Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past
Defaults
|
37
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Representations
and Warranties
|
39
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Representations
and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee
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39
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Representations
and Warranties of Depositor
|
40
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The
Trustees
|
41
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Number
of Trustees
|
41
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Property
Trustee Required
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41
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Delaware
Trustee Required
|
42
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Appointment
of Administrative Trustees
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42
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Duties
and Responsibilities of the Trustees
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42
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Notices
of Defaults and Extensions
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44
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Certain
Rights of Property Trustee
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44
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Delegation
of Power
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47
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May
Hold Securities
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47
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Compensation;
Reimbursement; Indemnity
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47
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Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor
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48
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Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor
|
49
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Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
|
50
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Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
|
50
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Property
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
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50
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Reports
to and from the Property Trustee
|
51
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Termination,
Liquidation and Merger
|
52
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Dissolution
Upon Expiration Date
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52
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Early
Termination
|
52
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Termination
|
52
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Liquidation
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52
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Mergers,
Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust
|
54
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Information
to Purchaser
|
55
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Depositor
Obligations to Purchaser
|
55
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Property
Trustee’s Obligations to Purchaser
|
55
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Miscellaneous
Provisions
|
56
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Limitation
of Rights of Holders
|
56
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Agreed
Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities
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56
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Amendment
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56
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Separability
|
57
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Governing
Law
|
58
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Successors
|
58
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Headings
|
58
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Reports,
Notices and Demands
|
58
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Agreement
Not to Petition
|
59
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Certificate
of Trust of Flag Financial Statutory Trust II
|
|
Form
of Common Securities Certificate
|
|
Form
of Preferred Securities Certificate
|
|
Junior
Subordinated Indenture
|
|
Form
of Transferee Certificate to be Executed by Transferees other than
QIBs
|
|
Form
of Transferor Certificate to be Executed by QIBs
|
|
Form
of Officer’s Certificate
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|
Officers’
Certificate pursuant to Section 8.16(a)
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|
Calculation
of LIBOR
|
AMENDED
AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of July 18, 2005, among (i) Flag
Financial Corporation, a Georgia corporation (including any successors or
permitted assigns, the “Depositor”), (ii) Wilmington
Trust Company,
a
Delaware banking corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the
“Property Trustee”), (iii) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the “Delaware Trustee”),
(iv) J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, an individual, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an individual,
and J.
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx., an individual, each of whose address is c/o Flag Financial
Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 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 (v) 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 July 13, 2005 (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
Subscription 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:
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.
2
“Bankruptcy
Event” means, with respect to any Person:
(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 Federal or State
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar 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
Laws” 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.
“Capital
Disqualification Event” has the meaning specified in Section
1.1
of the
Indenture.
“Closing
Date” has the meaning specified in the Placement 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.
“Depository
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.
“Extension
Period” has the meaning specified in Section
4.1(a)(ii).
“Federal
Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the staff
thereof, or a Federal Reserve Bank, acting through delegated authority, in
each
case under the rules, regulations and policies of the Federal Reserve System,
or
if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement any such entity
is
not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it , any successor
body
performing similar duties or functions.
“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.
“Guarantee
Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor
and Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, contemporaneously with
the
execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement for the benefit of the holders
of
the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.
“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.
5
“Indemnified
Person” has the meaning specified in Section
8.10(c).
“Indenture”
means the Junior Subordinated Indenture executed and delivered by the Depositor
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.
“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.
6
“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 Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to
the Indenture.
“Office
of Thrift Supervision” means the Office of Thrift Supervision, as from time to
time constituted or, if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement
such Office is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it,
then
the body performing such duties at such time.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or an Executive Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, of the Depositor, and delivered to the
Trustees. Any Officers’ 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 Officers’ 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 Officers’ 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 Placement Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement,
the Guarantee Agreement, the Subscription 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 any Affiliate of the Depositor.
“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.
7
“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;
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, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor
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, 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, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor 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.
8
“Placement
Agent” means Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, as Placement Agent pursuant to the
Placement Agreement, whose address is Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx
00000.
“Placement
Agreement” means the Placement Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2005, executed
and delivered by the Trust, the Depositor and Credit Suisse First Boston
LLC, as
placement agent.
“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.
“Purchaser”
means Credit Suisse First Boston, acting through its Cayman Islands branch,
as
purchaser of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreement,
whose address is c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
“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.
9
“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.
“Subscription
Agreement” means the Preferred Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of
July 18, 2005, by and among the Company, the Trust, the Purchaser and Credit
Suisse First Boston LLC (as to certain provisions thereof).
“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 “Flag Financial Statutory Trust II,”
which was created on July 13, 2005, 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.
“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.
10
THE
TRUST
SECTION
2.1. Name.
The
trust
continued hereby shall be known as “Flag Financial Statutory Trust II,” 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
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. The principal executive
office
of the Trust is c/o Flag Financial Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 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.
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.
11
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 the Placement Agreement and the Subscription
Agreement;
(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;
12
(G) execution
and delivery of closing certificates, if any, pursuant to the Placement
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;
(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;
13
(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 Placement
Agreement and the Subscription 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.
(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.
14
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.
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.
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.
15
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 July 18, 2005, and, except as provided
in
clause (ii) below, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 30th,
June
30th,
September 30th
and
December 30th
of each
year, commencing on September 30, 2005. 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”);
(ii) in
the
event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right under the
Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Notes, Distributions on
the
Trust Securities shall be deferred. Under the Indenture, so long as no Note
Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of Section
5.1
of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Depositor shall have
the
right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the Notes, to
defer
the payment of interest on the Notes for a period of up to twenty (20)
consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such extended interest
payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no
interest on the Notes shall be due and payable (except any Additional Tax
Sums
that may be due and payable). No interest on the Notes shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment
of
interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension
Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest
would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly,
equal to LIBOR plus 1.50%, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which
amounts
would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or until funds for the
payment thereof have been made available for payment. If Distributions are
deferred, the deferred Distributions (including Additional Interest Amounts)
shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to
Holders of the Trust Securities as they appear on the books and records of
the
Trust on the record date immediately preceding such termination
date.
16
(iii) Distributions
shall accumulate in respect of the Trust Securities at a variable rate per
annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.50% 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 period less than a full Distribution
period shall be computed 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
(iv) 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.
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.
(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;
17
(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 September 30, 2010, 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”);
provided, that the Depositor shall have received the prior approval of the
Federal Reserve if then required. The Notes may also be redeemed by the
Depositor, at its option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of
a
Capital Disqualification Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event
at
the Special Event Redemption Price (as set forth in the Indenture).
(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 pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement, 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.
18
(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.
19
(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.
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.
20
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.
(b) So
long
as the Property Trustee is the holder of the Notes, the Administrative Trustees
will cause the Depositor’s reports on Form FR Y-9C, FR Y-9LP and FR Y-6 to be
delivered to the Property Trustee promptly following their filing with the
Federal Reserve.
21
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.
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
Trustee or its Affiliates. The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties
without a successor having been duly appointed.
22
(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
(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.
(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.
23
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 $10,000,000 and one series of Common Securities
having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $310,000.
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 310 Common Securities having
an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $310,000, against receipt by the Trust
of the
aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities of $310,000.
Contemporaneously therewith and with the sale by the Trust to the Holders
of an
aggregate of 10,000 Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation
Amount
of $10,000,000, 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 $10,310,000, 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 $10,310,000 (being the aggregate amount
paid
by the Holders for the Preferred Securities and the amount paid by the Depositor
for the Common Securities).
SECTION
5.4. The
Securities Certificates.
(a) The
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations
of
$100,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof,
and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations
of $10,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $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.
24
(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) The
Preferred Securities issued to QIBs 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.
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.
25
(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.
(c) Every
Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration or 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.
26
(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
initial 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.
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.
27
(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.
(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.
28
(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.
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.
29
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.”
(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 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 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.
30
UNLESS
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC
TO
FLAG FINANCIAL STATUTORY TRUST II 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.
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, (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,” 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, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
UNDER
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) OR (V), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR
TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL 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.
31
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 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.
32
THIS
OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY
AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”).”
(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
|
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
10.8
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.
33
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.
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.
34
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.
(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.
35
(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.
(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.
36
(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 pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 of
the
Indenture, 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:
(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.
37
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), (b) or
(c)
of Section
5.1
of the
Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute
a proceeding directly against the Depositor, 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.
(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,
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
past
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.
38
(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.
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 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) Fthis
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);
39
(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
(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 corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its state of incorporation;
(b) the
Depositor 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) 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;
40
(e) 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
Depositor and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Depositor
and
such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the articles
or
certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other 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.
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.
41
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.
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.
42
(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 and liabilities relating
to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust
or
to any Holder for such Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this
Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that
they
restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing at
law or
in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Holders to replace such other
duties and liabilities of the Trustees.
(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;
43
(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
(v) the
Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by
the
Administrative Trustees 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 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 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) Within
three (3) Business Days after the receipt of written notice of the Depositor’s
exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the Notes pursuant
to
the Indenture, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to
the
extent provided in Section
10.8,
notice
of such exercise to the Holders and the Administrative Trustees, unless such
exercise shall have been revoked.
(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, 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.
44
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;
(c) any
direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall
be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ 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 any of its 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;
45
(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;
(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 Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor.
46
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.
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.
47
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.
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.
49
(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.
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;
50
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.
SECTION
8.16. Reports
to and from the Property Trustee.
(a) The
Depositor 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 not later than ninety (90) days after
the
end of each fiscal year of the Depositor ending after the date of this Trust
Agreement, an Officers’ 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 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
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 shall furnish to (i) the Property Trustee, (ii) the Purchaser,
(iii)
any Owner of the Preferred Securities reasonably identified to the Depositor
or
the Trust (which identification may be made either by such Owner or by the
Placement Agent or 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
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 not later than ninety (90)
days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor.
(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, (ii) the Placement Agent and (iii) a designee of (i) or
(ii)
above, as identified in writing to the Property Trustee, copies of all such
reports, certificates or information promptly upon receipt thereof.
51
TERMINATION,
LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION
9.1. Dissolution
Upon Expiration Date.
Unless
earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on September 30,
2040
(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;
(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),
provided, that the Holder of the Common Securities shall have received the
prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if then required;
(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:
52
(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.
(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.
53
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;
(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
54
(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 Guarantee
Agreement.
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.
INFORMATION
TO PURCHASER
SECTION
10.1. Depositor
Obligations to Purchaser.
Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, the Depositor shall furnish to (a) the Purchaser,
(b) any Owner of the Preferred Securities reasonably identified to the Depositor
or the Trust (which identification may be made either by such Owner or by
the
Placement Agent or 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, 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 (a) the
Purchaser, (b) the Placement Agent and (c) a designee of (a) or (b) above
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.
55
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.
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.
56
(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.
(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 Officers’
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.
57
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 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 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.
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 or the Depositor 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; and (b) in the case of
the
Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, to Flag Financial
Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 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. Such report, notice, demand
or
other communication to or upon a Holder or the Depositor 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.
58
(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 Flag Financial Statutory Trust II,” 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.
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.
[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.
FLAG
FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
as
Depositor
By:
_/s/
Xxxxxx X. Evans______________
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxx
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Delaware Trustee
By:
___/s/
X.
X. Xxxxxx, II_____________
Name:
X.X. Xxxxxx, XX
Title:
Senior Financial Services Officer
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
as
Property Trustee
By:
___/s/
X.
X. Xxxxxx, II_____________
Name:
X.X. Xxxxxx, XX
Title:
Senior Financial Services Officer
__/s/
X.
Xxxxxx Speight__________________
J.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Administrative
Trustee
__/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Doughty__________ ____
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Administrative
Trustee
__/s/
J.
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. _____________
J.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xx.
Administrative
Trustee
CERTIFICATE
OF TRUST
OF
FLAG
FINANCIAL STATUTORY TRUST II
This
Certificate of Trust of Flag Financial Statutory Trust II (the “Trust”) is being
duly executed and filed on behalf of the Trust by the undersigned, as trustees,
to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12
Del.
C.
§3801 et seq.)
(the
“Act”).
1. Name.
The
name of the statutory trust formed by this Certificate of Trust is: Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II.
2. Delaware
Trustee.
The
name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with its principal
place
of business in the State of Delaware are Wilmington Trust Company, Xxxxxx
Square
North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention:
Corporate Capital Markets.
3. Effective
Date.
This
Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary
of
State of the State of Delaware.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Certificate of Trust
in
accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.
Wilmington
Trust Company, not in its individual capacity,
but
solely as Property Trustee
By:
__________________________
Name:
Title:
Wilmington
Trust Company, not in its individual capacity,
but
solely as Delaware Trustee
By:
___________________________
Name:
Title:
A-1
FORM
OF
COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE
THIS
COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS
AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES
LAWS
AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT
TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT
IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST
AGREEMENT
Certificate
Number
C-
|
_________
Common Securities
|
Certificate
Evidencing Common Securities
of
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
Floating
Rate Common Securities
(liquidation
amount $1,000 per Common Security)
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust created under the laws of
the
State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that ______________________
(the “Holder”) is the registered owner of ____________common securities of the
Trust representing undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of
the
Trust and designated the Flag Financial Statutory Trust II Floating Rate
Common
Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the “Common
Securities”). Except in accordance with Section
5.11
of the
Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable
and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer hereof
other
than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject
to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of
the
Trust, dated as of July 18, 2005, as the same may be amended from time to
time
(the “Trust Agreement”), among Flag Financial Corporation, as Depositor,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company,
as
Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders,
from time to time, of Trust Securities. The Trust will furnish a copy of
the
Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the
Trust
at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon
receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and
is
entitled to the benefits thereunder.
B-1
This
Common Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware.
Terms
used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, one
of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the
Trust
this certificate this ____ day of ________________.
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
By:
___________________________
Name:
Administrative
Trustee
B-2
FORM
OF
PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE
“[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
FLAG FINANCIAL STATUTORY TRUST II 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.
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, (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,” 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, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
UNDER
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) OR (V), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR
TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL 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.
C-1
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 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.
C-2
THIS
OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY
AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”).
C-3
Certificate
Number
|
_________
Preferred Securities
________
Aggregate Liquidation Amount
|
CUSIP
NO.
_______________
Certificate
Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
Floating
Rate Preferred Securities
(liquidation
amount $1,000 per Preferred Security)
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust created under the laws of
the
State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that ___________________ (the
“Holder”) is the registered owner of ___________ Preferred Securities [if the
Preferred Security is a Global Security, then insert--,or such other number
of
Preferred Securities represented hereby as may be set forth in the records
of
the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Trust
Agreement (as defined below),] of the Trust representing an undivided preferred
beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Flag Financial
Statutory Trust II Floating Rate Preferred Securities (liquidation amount
$1,000
per Preferred Security) (the “Preferred Securities”). The Preferred Securities
are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a
duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and
in
proper form for transfer as provided in Section
5.7
of the
Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges,
restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred
Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities
represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the
terms
and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust,
dated
as of July 18, 2005, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Trust
Agreement”), among Flag Financial Corporation, a Georgia corporation, as
Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust
Company, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and
the
Holders, from time to time, of Trust Securities. The Holder is entitled to
the
benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by Flag Financial Corporation
and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of July 18,
2005,
as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Guarantee Agreement”), to the
extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of each of the Trust
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written
request to the Property Trustee at its principal place of business or registered
office.
Upon
receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and
is
entitled to the benefits thereunder.
C-4
This
Preferred Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
All
capitalized terms used but not defined in this Preferred Securities Certificate
are used with the meanings specified in the Trust Agreement, including the
Schedules and Exhibits thereto.
In
Witness Whereof,
one of
the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the Trust
this certificate this __ day of __________, ____.
FLAG
FINANCIAL STATUTORY TRUST II
By:
_____________________
Name:
Administrative
Trustee
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
|
C-5
FORM
OF
REVERSE OF SECURITY
The
Trust
promises to pay Distributions from July 18, 2005, or from the most recent
Distribution Date to which Distributions have been paid or duly provided
for,
quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March
30th,
June
30th,
September 30th
and
December 30th
of each
year, commencing on September 30, 2005, at a variable rate per annum, reset
quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.50% of the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities represented by this Preferred Securities Certificate, together
with
any Additional Interest Amounts, in respect to such period.
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.
In
the
event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right under the
Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Notes, Distributions on
the
Preferred Securities shall be deferred.
Under
the
Indenture, so long as no Note Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c),
(e),
(f), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing,
the Depositor shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during
the
term of the Notes, to defer the payment of interest on the Notes for a period
of
up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such
extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension
Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Tax Sums
that
may be due and payable). No interest on the Notes shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment
of
interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension
Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest
would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly,
equal to LIBOR plus 1.50%, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which
amounts
would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or until funds for the
payment thereof have been made available for payment. If Distributions are
deferred, the deferred Distributions (including Additional Interest Amounts)
shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to
Holders (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Trust Securities as they
appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately
preceding such termination date.
Distributions
on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect
to any
Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the
payment of such Distributions in the Payment Account of the Trust. The Trust’s
funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Preferred Securities
will
be limited to payments received from the Depositor. The payment of Distributions
out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Depositor pursuant to
the
Guarantee Agreement.
C-6
During
any such Extension Period, the Depositor shall not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Depositor’s capital stock or
(ii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Depositor that rank pari
passu
in all respects with or junior in interest to the Notes (other than (a)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock
of the
Depositor in connection with (1) any employment contract, benefit plan or
other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, (2) a dividend reinvestment or stockholder
stock purchase plan or (3) the issuance of capital stock of the Depositor
(or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class
or
series of the Depositor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary
(as defined in the Indenture) of the Depositor) for any class or series of
the
Depositor’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Depositor’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock, (c) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Depositor’s capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the
security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend
in
connection with any Rights Plan (as defined in the Indenture), the issuance
of
rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption
or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (e) any dividend in the form of
stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock
as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior
to
such stock).
On
each
Note Redemption Date, 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. Under the Indenture,
the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest Payment Date,
at the
Depositor’s option, on or after September 30, 2010 in whole or in part from time
to time at a redemption price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the
principal amount thereof or the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable,
together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including
any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption;
provided, that the Depositor shall have received the prior approval of the
Federal Reserve if then required. The Notes may also be redeemed by the
Depositor, at its option, at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the
occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, an Investment Company Event
or a
Tax Event at the Special Event Redemption Price.
The
Trust
Securities 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.
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 Security Register. If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary,
such Distributions shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available
funds.
C-7
The
indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is, to the extent provided in the Indenture,
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all
Senior Debt (as defined in the Indenture), and this Security is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.
C-8
ASSIGNMENT
For
Value
Received,
the
undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Securities Certificate
to:
(Insert
assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
(Insert
address and zip code of assignee)
and
irrevocably appoints
agent
to
transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust.
The
agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:
_____________________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities
Certificate)
The
signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks,
stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership
in
an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule
17Ad-15.
C-9
Junior
Subordinated Indenture
D-1
FORM
OF
TRANSFEREE CERTIFICATE
TO
BE
EXECUTED BY TRANSFEREES OTHER THAN QIBS
__________,
[ ]
Flag
Financial Corporation
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Re: Purchase
of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Preferred
Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of Flag Financial Statutory Trust
II
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
connection with our purchase of the Preferred Securities we confirm
that:
1. We
understand that the Floating Rate Preferred Securities (the “Preferred
Securities”) of Flag Financial Statutory Trust II (the “Trust”) (including the
guarantee (the “Guarantee”) of Flag Financial Corporation (the “Company”)
executed in connection therewith) and the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Notes due 2035 of the Company (the “Subordinated Notes”) (the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantee and the Subordinated Notes together being referred
to
herein as the “Offered Securities”), have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be
offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on
our
own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing
the
Offered Securities that, if we decide to offer, sell or otherwise transfer
any
such Offered Securities, (i) such offer, sale or transfer will be made only
(a)
to the Trust, (b) to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified
institutional buyer” (a “QIB”) (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act)
in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (c) 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 Offered Securities
for its own account, or for the account of such an “accredited investor,” for
investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection
with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, (d) pursuant
to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (e) pursuant
to an exemption from registration under 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 (c) or (e), subject
to
the right of the Trust and the depositor to require an opinion of counsel
and
other information satisfactory to each of them. The foregoing restrictions
on
resale will not apply subsequent to the date on which, in the written opinion
of
counsel, the Preferred Securities are not “restricted securities” within the
meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. If any resale or other transfer
of
the Offered Securities is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (c) or (e)
above, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially
in the form of this letter to the Property Trustee as Transfer Agent, which
shall provide as applicable, among other things, that the transferee is an
“accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or
(7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act that is acquiring such Securities
for
investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities
Act.
We acknowledge on our behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which
we
are purchasing Securities that the Trust and the Company reserve the right
prior
to any offer, sale or other transfer pursuant to clause (c) or (e) to require
the delivery of any opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information
satisfactory to the Trust and the Company. We understand that the certificates
for any Offered Security that we receive will bear a legend substantially
to the
effect of the foregoing.
E-1
2. We
are an
“accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or
(7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act purchasing for our own account or
for
the account of such an “accredited investor,” and we are acquiring the Offered
Securities for investment purposes and not with view to, or for offer or
sale in
connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act, and
we
have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to
be
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Offered
Securities, and we and any account for which we are acting are each able
to bear
the economic risks of our or its investment.
3. We
are
acquiring the Offered Securities purchased by us for our own account (or
for one
or more accounts as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion
and
have authority to make, and do make, the statements contained in this letter)
and not with a view to any distribution of the Offered Securities, subject,
nevertheless, to the understanding that the disposition of our property will
at
all times be and remain within our control.
4. In
the
event that we purchase any Preferred Securities or any Subordinated Notes,
we
will acquire such Preferred Securities having an aggregate stated liquidation
amount of not less than $100,000 or such Subordinated Notes having an aggregate
principal amount not less than $100,000, for our own account and for each
separate account for which we are acting.
5. We
acknowledge that either (A) we are not and are not acting as a fiduciary
of or
on behalf of an employee benefit, 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 are not purchasing the Offered Securities on behalf of or with “plan assets”
by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity; (B) we are eligible for the
exemptive relief available under one or more of the following prohibited
transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor:
PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption;
or (C)
our purchase and holding of this security, or any interest therein, is not
prohibited by Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect
to
such purchase or holding.
6. We
acknowledge that the Trust and the Company and others will rely upon the
truth
and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties
and
agreements and agree that if any of the acknowledgments, representations,
warranties and agreements deemed to have been made by our purchase of the
Offered Securities are no longer accurate, we shall promptly notify the Company.
If we are acquiring any Offered Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one
or
more investor accounts, we represent that we have sole discretion with respect
to each such investor account and that we have full power to make the foregoing
acknowledgments, representations and agreement on behalf of each such investor
account.
E-2
(Name
of
Purchaser)
By:
______________________________
Date:
______________________________
Upon
transfer, the Offered Securities would be registered in the name of the new
beneficial owner as follows.
Name:
__________________________
Address:
__________________________
Taxpayer
ID Number: ___________________
E-3
FORM
OF
TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE
TO
BE
EXECUTED FOR QIBs
__________,
[ ]
Flag
Financial Corporation
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Re: Purchase
of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate
Preferred Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of Flag Financial Statutory
Trust II
Reference
is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Flag Financial
Statutory Trust II, dated as of July 18, 2005 (the “Trust Agreement”), among J.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and J. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx., as Administrative
Trustees, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust
Company, as Property Trustee, Flag Financial Corporation, as Depositor, and
the
holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of
Flag Financial Statutory Trust II. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein
shall have the meanings given them in the Trust Agreement.
This
letter relates to $________________________ aggregate liquidation amount
of
Preferred Securities which are held in the name of _____________ (the
“Transferor”).
In
accordance with Article V of the Trust Agreement, the Transferor hereby
certifies that such Preferred Securities are being transferred in accordance
with (i) the transfer restrictions set forth in the Preferred Securities
and
(ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a transferee that the
Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Preferred Securities for
its
own account or an account with respect to which the transferee exercises
sole
investment discretion and the transferee and any such account is a “qualified
institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, in a transaction meeting
the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with applicable securities
laws
of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
You
are
entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce
this
letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or
legal
proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered
hereby.
(Name
of
Transferor)
By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
_______________________
F-1
Form
of
Officer’s
Financial Certificate
The
undersigned, the [Chief Financial Officer] [Treasurer] [Executive Vice
President] hereby certifies, pursuant to Section 8.16(b) of the Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2005, among Flag Financial
Corporation (the “Company”), Wilmington Trust Company, as property trustee,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee and the administrative trustees
named therein, that, as of [date], [20__], the Company had the following
ratios
and balances:
BANK
HOLDING COMPANY
As
of [Quarterly Financial Dates]
|
||||
Tier
1 Risk Weighted Assets%
|
% | |||
Ratio
of Double Leverage%
|
% | |||
Non-Performing
Assets to Loans and OREO%
|
% | |||
Tangible
Common Equity as a Percentage of Tangible Assets%
|
% | |||
Ratio
of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans%
|
% | |||
Ratio
of Net Charge-Offs to Loans%
|
% | |||
Return
on Average Assets (annualized)%
|
% | |||
Net
Interest Margin (annualized)%
|
% | |||
Efficiency
Ratio%
|
% | |||
Ratio
of Loans to Assets%
|
% | |||
Ratio
of Loans to Deposits%
|
% | |||
Double
Leverage (exclude trust preferred as equity)%
|
% | |||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
|||
Year
to Date Income
|
$
|
*
A table
describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page
G-4.
[FOR
FISCAL YEAR END:
Attached
hereto are the audited consolidated financial statements (including the balance
sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, and notes thereto, together
with the report of the independent accountants thereon) of the Company and
its
consolidated subsidiaries for the three years ended _______, 20___.]
[FOR
FISCAL QUARTER END:
Attached
hereto are the unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial statements
(including the balance sheet and income statement) of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter] ended [date],
20__.
G-1
The
financial statements fairly present in all material respects, in accordance
with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the financial position
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations
and changes in financial condition as of the date, and for the [___ quarter
interim] [annual] period ended [date], 20__, and such financial statements
have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the
period
involved (expect as otherwise noted therein).
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate as of
this _____ day of _____________, 20__
_______________________________
Name:
Title:
Flag
Financial Corporation
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
(000)
000-0000
G-2
Report
Item
|
Corresponding
FRY-9C or LP Line Items with Line Item corresponding
Schedules
|
Description
of Calculation
|
Tier
1 Risk Weighted Assets
|
BHCK7206
Schedule
HC-R
|
Tier
1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/ Risk-Adjusted
Assets
|
Ratio
of Double Leverage
|
(BHCP0365)/(BCHCP3210)
Schedule
PC in the LP
|
Total
equity investments in subsidiaries divided by the total equity
capital.
This field is calculated at the parent company level. “Subsidiaries”
include bank, bank holding company, and non-bank
subsidiaries.
|
Non-Performing
Assets to Loans and OREO
|
(BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507+BHCK2744/(BHCK2122+BHCK2744)
Schedules HC-C, HC-M & HC-N
|
Total
Nonperforming Assets (NPLs+Foreclosed Real Estate+Other Nonaccrual
&
Repossessed Assets)/Total Loans+Foreclosed Real Estate
|
Tangible
Common Equity as a Percentage of Tangible Assets
|
(BHDM3210-BHCK3163)/(BHCK2170-BHCK3163)
Schedule
HC
|
(Equity
Capital - Goodwill)/(Total Assets - Goodwill)
|
Ratio
of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans
|
(BHCK3123+BHCK3128)/(BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507)
Schedules
HC & HC-N & HC-R
|
Total
Loan Loss and Allocated Transfer Risk Reserves/ Total Nonperforming
Loans
(Nonaccrual + Restructured)
|
Ratio
of Net Charge-Offs to Loans
|
(BHCK4635-BHCK4605)/(BHCK3516)
Schedules
HI-B & HC-K
|
Net
charge offs for the period as a percentage of average
loans.
|
Return
on Average Assets (annualized)
|
(BHCK4340/BHCK3368)
Schedules
HI & HC-K
|
Net
Income as a percentage of Assets.
|
Net
Interest Margin (annualized)
|
(BHCK4519/(BHCK3515+BHCK3365+BHCK3516+BHCK3401+BHCKB985)
Schedules
HI Memorandum and HC-K
|
(Net
Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available/Average
Earning
Assets)
|
Efficiency
Ratio
|
(BHCK4093)/(BHCK4519+BHCK4079)
Schedule
HI
|
(Non-interest
Expense)/(Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available,
plus
Non-interest Income)
|
Ratio
of Loans to Assets
|
(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHCK2170)
Schedule
HC
|
Total
Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total
Assets
|
Ratio
of Loans to Deposits
|
(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHDM6631+BHDM6636+BHFN6631+BHFN6636)
Schedule
HC
|
Total
Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total
Deposits (Includes Domestic and Foreign Deposits)
|
Total
Assets
|
(BHCK2170)
Schedule
HC
|
The
sum of total assets. Includes cash and balances due from depository
institutions; securities; federal funds sold and securities purchased
under agreements to resell; loans and lease financing receivables;
trading
assets; premises and fixed assets; other real estate owned; investments
in
unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies; customer’s liability
on acceptances outstanding; intangible assets; and other
assets.
|
Net
Income
|
(BHCK4300)
Schedule
HI
|
The
sum of income (loss)before extraordinary items and other adjustments
and
extraordinary items; and other adjustments, net of income
taxes.
|
G-3
FORM
OF
OFFICERS’
CERTIFICATE
UNDER
SECTION
8.16(a)
Pursuant
to Section 8.16(a) of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of July
18, 2005 (as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Trust
Agreement”)
of Flag Financial Statutory Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”),
each of the undersigned hereby certifies that, to the knowledge of the
undersigned, none of
the
Depositor, the Administrative Trustees and the Trust are in default in the
performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions
of the
Trust Agreement
(without
regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the
Trust
Agreement) for the fiscal period ending on _________, 20__ [, except as follows:
specify
each
such
default and the nature and status thereof].
Capitalized
terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective
meanings assigned thereto in the Trust Agreement.
[signatures
appear on the next page]
H-1
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Officers’ Certificate as of
__________, 20__.
___________________________
Name:
Title:
[Must
be the Chief Executive Officer, the
President,
or an Executive Vice President]
of
Flag
Financial Corporation
___________________________
Name:
Title:
[Must
be the Chief Financial Officer, the
Treasurer,
or an Assistant Treasurer]
of
Flag
Financial Corporation
____________________________
Administrative
Trustee of
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
Name:
____________________________
Administrative
Trustee of
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
Name:
____________________________
Administrative
Trustee of
Flag
Financial Statutory Trust II
Name:
H-2
With
respect to the Trust Securities, the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”)
shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following
provisions (in each case rounded to the nearest .000001%):
(1) On
the
second LIBOR Business Day (as defined below) prior to a Distribution Date
(except, with respect to the first distribution payment period, on July 14,
2005
(each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date”), LIBOR for any given security
shall, for the following distribution period, equal the rate, as obtained
by the
Calculation Agent from Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News, for
three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Dow Xxxxx Telerate
Page 3750 (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
Inc. 1991 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions), or such other
page
as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR
Determination Date.
(2) If,
on
any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Dow Xxxxx Telerate
Page 3750 or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, the Calculation
Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the
Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank
market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe in an amount determined
by
the Calculation Agent by reference to requests for quotations as of
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made
by
the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination
Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR
shall
equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination
Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR
shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that
leading
banks in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting
on
the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits
in
Europe in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the
principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market;
provided, that if the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine
a
rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR
shall be LIBOR as determined on the previous LIBOR Determination
Date.
(3) As
used
herein: “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London interbank market
selected by the Calculation Agent; and “LIBOR Business Day” means a day on which
commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange
and foreign currency deposits) in London.
Schedule
A-1