Exhibit 4.9
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AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I
TRUST AGREEMENT
among
AMERICREDIT CORP., as Depositor,
[___________________________], as Property Trustee,
[_____________________________], as Delaware Trustee,
and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
Dated as of [_________ __,] 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS................................................................................ 2
Section 101. Definitions.................................................................... 2
ARTICLE II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST................................................................... 11
Section 201. Name........................................................................... 11
Section 202. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.................... 11
Section 203. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses................ 11
Section 204. Issuance of the Preferred Securities........................................... 11
Section 205. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of
Debentures..................................................................... 12
Section 206. Declaration of Trust........................................................... 13
Section 207. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions............................... 13
Section 208. Assets of Trust................................................................ 17
Section 209. Title to Trust Property........................................................ 17
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT ACCOUNT.............................................................................. 17
Section 301. Payment Account................................................................ 17
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION.................................................................... 18
Section 401. Distributions.................................................................. 18
Section 402. Redemption..................................................................... 19
Section 403. Conversion..................................................................... 21
Section 404. Subordination of Common Securities............................................. 24
Section 405. Payment Procedures............................................................. 24
Section 406. Tax Returns and Reports........................................................ 25
Section 407. Payment of Taxes, Duties, etc. of the Trust.................................... 25
Section 408. Payments Under Indenture....................................................... 25
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES................................................................ 25
Section 501. Initial Ownership.............................................................. 25
Section 502. The Trust Securities Certificates.............................................. 25
Section 503. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates................................................................... 26
ii
Section 503A. Global Preferred Security..................................................... 26
Section 504. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates.................................................................. 28
Section 505. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates............ 29
Section 506. Persons Deemed Securityholders................................................ 29
Section 507. Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses........................ 30
Section 508. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................................... 30
Section 509. Appointment of Paying Agent................................................... 30
Section 510. Appointment of Conversion Agent............................................... 31
Section 511. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor................................... 31
Section 512. Trust Securities Certificates................................................. 32
Section 513. Notices to Clearing Agency.................................................... 32
Section 514. Rights of Securityholders..................................................... 32
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING.................................................... 33
Section 601. Limitations on Voting Rights.................................................. 33
Section 602. Notice of Meetings............................................................ 34
Section 603. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders......................................... 34
Section 604. Voting Rights................................................................. 35
Section 605. Proxies, etc.................................................................. 35
Section 606. Securityholder Action by Written Consent...................................... 35
Section 607. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes..................................... 35
Section 608. Acts of Securityholders....................................................... 36
Section 609. Inspection of Records......................................................... 37
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES............................................................... 37
Section 701. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee ...................... 37
Section 702. Representations and Warranties of the Delaware Bank and the
Delaware Trustee.............................................................. 38
Section 703. Representations and Warranties of Depositor................................... 39
ARTICLE VIII
TRUSTEES..................................................................................... 40
Section 801. Certain Duties and Responsibilities........................................... 40
Section 802. Certain Notices............................................................... 41
Section 803. Certain Rights of Property Trustee............................................ 42
Section 804. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities........................ 44
Section 805. May Hold Securities........................................................... 44
Section 806. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees................................................. 44
iii
Section 807. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees.................. 45
Section 808. Conflicting Interests......................................................... 45
Section 809. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.............................................. 46
Section 810. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor............................. 47
Section 811. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor........................................ 49
Section 812. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business................... 49
Section 813. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust.................. 49
Section 814. Reports by Property Trustee................................................... 50
Section 815. Reports to the Property Trustee............................................... 50
Section 816. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.............................. 50
Section 817. Number of Trustees............................................................ 50
Section 818. Delegation of Power........................................................... 51
Section 819. Voting........................................................................ 51
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER.......................................................... 51
Section 901. Termination Upon Expiration Date.............................................. 51
Section 902. Early Termination............................................................. 51
Section 903. Termination................................................................... 52
Section 904. Liquidation................................................................... 52
Section 905. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the
Trust......................................................................... 54
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS..................................................................... 55
Section 1001. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders....................................... 55
Section 1002. Amendment..................................................................... 55
Section 1003. Separability.................................................................. 57
Section 1004. Governing Law................................................................. 57
Section 1005. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.............................................. 57
Section 1006. Successors.................................................................... 57
Section 1007. Headings...................................................................... 57
Section 1008. Reports, Notices and Demands.................................................. 57
Section 1009. Agreement Not to Petition..................................................... 58
Section 1010. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................ 58
Section 1011. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and Indenture............... 59
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A Certificate of Trust
Exhibit B Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit C Form of Expense Agreement
iv
Exhibit D Form of Preferred Securities Certificate
Exhibit E Form of Preferred Securities Certificate Authentication
Exhibit F Certificate Depositary Agreement
v
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Trust Agreement
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310(a)(1)............................................... 807
310(a)(2)............................................... 807
310(a)(3)............................................... 807
310(a)(4)............................................... 207(a)(ii)
310(b).................................................. 808
311(a).................................................. 813
311(b).................................................. 813
312(a).................................................. 507
312(b).................................................. 507
312(c).................................................. 507
313(a).................................................. 814(a)
313(a)(4)............................................... 814(b)
313(b).................................................. 814(b)
313(c).................................................. 1008
313(d).................................................. 814(c)
314(a).................................................. 815
314(b).................................................. Not Applicable
314(c)(1)............................................... 816
314(c)(2)............................................... 816
314(c)(3)............................................... Not Applicable
314(d).................................................. Not Applicable
314(e).................................................. 101, 816
315(a).................................................. 801(a), 803(a)
315(b).................................................. 802, 1008
315(c).................................................. 801(a)
315(d).................................................. 801, 803
316(a)(2)............................................... Not Applicable
316(b).................................................. Not Applicable
316(c).................................................. 607
317(a)(1)............................................... Not Applicable
317(a)(2)............................................... Not Applicable
317(b).................................................. 509
318(a).................................................. 1010
vi
Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of this Agreement
and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
vii
TRUST AGREEMENT
TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of [____________], 2001, among (i) AMERICREDIT
CORP., a Texas corporation (including any successors or assigns, the
"Depositor"), (ii) [______________________], a [____________] banking
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
[____________] , as property trustee (the "Property Trustee" and, in its
separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the
"Bank"), (iii) [____________________], a Delaware banking corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, as Delaware
trustee (the "Delaware Trustee," and, in its separate corporate capacity and not
in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware Bank") (iv) [____________],
an individual, and [____________], an individual, each of whose address is c/o
AmeriCredit Corp., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 (each
an "Administrative Trustee" and collectively the "Administrative Trustees") (the
Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred
to collectively as the "Trustees"), and (v) the several Holders (as hereinafter
defined).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee, and [____________] and
[____________], each as an Administrative Trustee, do hereby duly declare and
establish a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the
entering into of this Agreement, and by executing and filing by the Delaware
Trustee, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, on the date hereof,
the form of which is attached as Exhibit A to provide for, among other things,
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(i) the issuance of the Common Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust (as
defined herein) to the Depositor; (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred
Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement (as defined herein); (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the
Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Debentures (as defined
herein); and (iv) the appointment of the Trustees.
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 Securityholders (as defined herein),
the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 101. 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 and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or
a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust
Agreement; and
(d) the words "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.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 608.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest
accrued on interest in arrears and paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of
Debentures for such period.
"Additional Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the
Indenture.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of [____________] and [____________],
solely in his capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust formed and
continued hereunder and not in his or her individual capacity, or such
Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person
directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or
more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the
specified Person; (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting
securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person; (c) any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the specified Person; (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a
general partner; (e) any officer or director of the specified Person; and (f) if
the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person
is an officer, director or general partner.
2
"Authenticating Agent" means an authenticating agent with respect to the
Preferred Securities appointed by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 503.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the
premises adjudging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly
filed a petition seeking liquidation or reorganization of or in respect of such
Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, or any other
similar applicable federal or state law, and the continuance of any such decree
or order unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or the commencement of
an involuntary case under the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended,
in respect of such Person, which shall continue undismissed for a period of 90
days or entry of an order for relief in such case; or the entry of a decree or
order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment on the
ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, trustee
or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of such Person or of its property, or
for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall
have remained in force unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
voluntary bankrupt, or the consent by such Person to the filing of a bankruptcy
proceeding against it, or the filing by such Person of a petition or answer or
consent seeking liquidation or reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy
Code of 1978, as amended, or other similar applicable federal or state law, or
the consent by such Person to the filing of any such petition or to the
appointment on the ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver or custodian
or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of such Person
or of its property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 1009.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor's Board of
Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the
Depositor to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been
delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,
and delivered to the appropriate Trustee.
"Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a day on which
banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law,
executive order or regulation to remain closed, or a day on which the Property
Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust Office of the Debenture
Trustee is closed for business.
3
"Certificate Depositary Agreement" means the agreement among Depositor,
Trust and DTC, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F as the same may be amended and
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supplemented from time to time.
"Certificate of Trust" means the certificate of trust filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust, as
amended or restated from time to time.
"Change in 1940 Act Law" shall have the meaning set forth in the definition
of "Investment Company Event."
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency"
pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC
shall be the initial Clearing Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank or other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the date of execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement.
"Code" means the 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 instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of
the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $[__] and having the rights provided
therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to convert to shares of
Common Stock and the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation
Distribution as provided herein.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of
Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B.
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"Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, no par value.
"Company" means AmeriCredit Corp.
"Conversion Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 403(d).
4
"Conversion Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 403(b).
"Conversion Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section 403(a).
"Conversion Request" has the meaning set forth in Section 403(b).
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office at which, at any particular time,
the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee,
as the case may be, shall be principally administered, which office at the date
hereof, in each such case, is located at [_____________, _______________], Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in
Section 8.1 of the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be
redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption under the Indenture.
"Debenture Tax Event" means a "Tax Event" as specified in Section 1.1 of
the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means [_____________], a state chartered trust company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and any successor thereto, as
trustee under the Indenture.
"Debentures" means the $[____________] aggregate principal amount of the
Depositor's [__]% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 20[__], issued
pursuant to the Indenture.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means Preferred Securities
Certificates issued in certified, fully registered form as provided in Section
514.
"Delaware Bank" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware
Code, 12 Delaware Code Sections 3801 et seq. as it may be amended from time to
time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as
the "Delaware Trustee" in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its
capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositary" means DTC or any successor thereto.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
5
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 401(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as
provided in Section 401.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.
"Event of Default" means the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default 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).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
between the Depositor and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit C, as amended from time to time.
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"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 901.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1
of the Indenture.
"Global Preferred Securities Certificate" means a Preferred Securities
Certificate evidencing ownership of Global Preferred Securities.
"Global Preferred Security" means a Preferred Security, the ownership and
transfer of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as
described herein.
"Guarantee" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and [______________], as 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.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of [____________], 2001, between
the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as trustee, as amended or supplemented
from time to time.
"Investment Company Act," means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust and the Depositor
of an Opinion of Counsel from counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a
written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or
6
regulatory authority, which amendment or change is effective or which
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance
of the preferred securities, there is [more than an insubstantial risk] that the
Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change
becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the
date of the original issuance of the Preferred Securities.
"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 Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance
with the Indenture and the proceeds of which shall be used to pay the Redemption
Price of such Trust Securities; and (b) with respect to a distribution of
Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination or
liquidation of the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures
are distributed. Each Debenture distributed pursuant to clause (b) above shall
carry with it accrued interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
interest then due on such Debentures.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $[__] per Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Debentures are to be distributed
to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and liquidation
of the Trust pursuant to Section 904(a).
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 904(d).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President or an
Executive Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer or
the Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One
of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 816
shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the
Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with
a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate 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 each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
7
(c) a statement that each 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 each such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing of independent, outside
legal counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the
Depositor, who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee.
"Outstanding," when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of
the date of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore executed and
delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee or
delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any
Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that, if
such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been
duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Preferred Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu
of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to
Sections 504, 505, 512 and 514; provided, however, 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 any Trustee shall be disregarded
and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) 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 (b) 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 which 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 the pledgee is not the Depositor or any
other Obligor upon the Preferred Securities or a Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant
to Section 509 and shall initially be the Property Trustee.
8
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust
account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust department
for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of
the Debentures shall be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make
payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Sections 401 and 402.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $[__] and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to convert to
shares of Common Stock and the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation
Distribution as provided herein.
"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership
of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D.
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"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as
the "Property Trustee," in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its
capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued
hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in
such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.
"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 Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity of the
Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any of the Debentures on the
stated maturity date, the maturity redemption price equal to the principal
amount of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, on the Debentures; with respect to
the optional prepayment of the Debentures, upon the occurrence and continuation
of a Special Event, the Special Event Redemption Price equal to the Special
Event Prepayment Price in respect of the Debentures; and with respect to the
optional prepayment of the Debentures, the optional redemption price equal to
the optional prepayment price with respect to the Debentures.
"Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 810.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 504.
9
"Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security
is or Trust Securities are registered in the Securities Register; any such
Person is a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust
Act.
A "Special Event" means a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.
A "Tax Event" means the receipt by Depositor and the Trust of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
amendment or change in any official administrative pronouncement or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or
change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after
the issue date, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is,
or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
Debentures, (ii) interest payable by Depositor on the Debentures is not, or
within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not be, deductible by Depositor,
in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more
than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
"Trust" means the Delaware business trust created and continued hereby and
identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified,
amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof,
including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Trust
Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Trust
Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as
in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is
amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by
any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures; (b) the rights of the Property
Trustee under the Guarantee; (c) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the
Payment Account; and (d) 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.
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"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
"Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
and the Administrative Trustees.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
[____________], 2001, among the Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters named
therein.
ARTICLE II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST
SECTION 201. Name.
The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "AmeriCredit Capital Trust I,"
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 engage in the transactions contemplated
hereby, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust
and xxx and be sued.
SECTION 202. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is
c/o[__________________________] Attn: Corporate Trust Administration, or such
other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by
written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal executive
office of the Trust is c/o AmeriCredit Corp., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
SECTION 203. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational
Expenses.
The Trustees acknowledge receipt in trust from the Depositor of the sum of
$[__], which shall constitute the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall
pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of
any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such
Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the
payment of such expenses.
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Section 204. Issuance of the Preferred Securities.
On [____________], 2001, the Depositor and an Administrative Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust and pursuant to this Trust Agreement, executed and delivered
the Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of
this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall
execute in accordance with Section 502 and deliver in accordance with the
Underwriting Agreement, Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the
name of Persons entitled thereto in an aggregate amount of [____________]
Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $[____________]
against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of
$[____________], which amount such Administrative Trustee shall promptly deliver
to the Property Trustee. If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment
option and there is an Option Closing Date (as such term is defined in the
Underwriting Agreement), then an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust,
shall execute in accordance with Section 502 and deliver in accordance with the
Underwriting Agreement, Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the
name of the Persons entitled thereto in an aggregate amount of up to
[____________], Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
up to $[____________] against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such
Preferred Securities of up to $[____________], which amount such Administrative
Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.
Section 205. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase
of Debentures.
(a) Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 502 and deliver to the Depositor, Common Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of
Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $[____________]
against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously therewith,
an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and
purchase from the Depositor Debentures, registered in the name of the Property
Trustee on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount equal to
$[____________], and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Debentures,
the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the
sum of $[____________].
(b) If the underwriters exercise the Option and there is an Option Closing
Date, then an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 502 and deliver to the Depositor, Common Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an additional
aggregate amount of Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
up to $[____________] against payment by the Depositor of such amount.
Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust,
shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor, additional Debentures,
registered in the name of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount of
up to $[____________], and, in satisfaction of the purchase price of such
Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the
Depositor up to $[____________], such aggregate amount to
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be equal to the sum of the amounts received from the Depositor pursuant to
Section 205(b) and from one of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 204.
Section 206. Declaration of Trust.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell
Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures;
and (b) to engage in those activities necessary, advisable or incidental
thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust,
to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and
the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee hereby
declares that it shall hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the
conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Securityholders. The
Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth
herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the
purposes of the Trust. 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 Business Trust Act.
Section 207. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with
the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in
paragraph (b) of this Section 207 and Article VIII, and in accordance with the
following provisions (i) and (ii), the Administrative Trustees shall have the
authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the
Administrative Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express
or implied, otherwise granted to the Administrative Trustees under this Trust
Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without
limitation, the following:
(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee, acting singly
or jointly, shall have the power and authority to act on behalf
of the Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities and the
compliance with the Underwriting Agreement in connection
therewith;
(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver
and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement
and such other agreements or documents as may be necessary
or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of
the Trust;
(C) assisting in the registration of the Preferred Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under
state securities or blue sky laws, and
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the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(D) assisting in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon
The New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange or
exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor, the
registration of the Preferred Securities under the Exchange
Act, the compliance with the listing requirements of The New
York Stock Exchange or the applicable securities exchanges
and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other
reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(E) the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and
other information regarding the Trust Securities and the
Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with this
Trust Agreement;
(F) the appointment of a Paying Agent, Conversion Agent,
Authenticating Agent and Securities Registrar in accordance
with this Trust Agreement;
(G) 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 with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
(H) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for
the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid
existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory
business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and
of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is
necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities or to enable the Trust to effect
the purposes for which the Trust was created; and
(I) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the
Administrative Trustees may from time to time determine is
necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this
Trust Agreement for the benefit of the Securityholders
(without consideration of the effect of any such action on
any particular Securityholder).
(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power,
duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to
the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
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(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments
made in respect of the Debentures in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in
respect of the Trust Securities in accordance with the terms
of this Trust Agreement;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of
a holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to the
Securityholders 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;
(I) after an Event of Default, 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
Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any
such action on any particular Securityholder);
(J) registering transfers of the Trust Securities in accordance
with this Trust Agreement; and
(K) except as otherwise provided in this Section 207(a)(ii), the
Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities,
powers or the authority of the Administrative Trustees set
forth in Section 207(a)(i).
(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 Trustees 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
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Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein; (iii) take any action that
would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for
United States federal income tax purposes; (iv) incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issue any other debt; (v) issue debt or any securities other
than the Trust Securities; or (vi) take or consent to any action that would
result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The
Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at
any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest
of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.
(c) 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 preparation and filing by the Trust with the Commission and
the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration
statement on the appropriate form in relation to the Preferred
Securities, the Debentures, and the Guarantee, including any
amendments thereto;
(ii) the determination of the states in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or, register for sale all or part of the
Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other
than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust,
and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of
the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any documents
to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the
Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order
to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Trust and execution on behalf
of the Trust of an application to The New York Stock Exchange
or a national stock exchange or other organizations for listing
upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities and to file
or cause an Administrative Trustee to file thereafter with such
exchange or organization such notifications and documents as
may be necessary from time to time;
(iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust with the Commission and
the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration
statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the
Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto;
(v) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery
of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the
Preferred Securities; and
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(vi) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry
out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) 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 shall not be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, shall be
classified as a "grantor trust" and not as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the
Debentures shall be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
federal income tax purposes. In this connection, subject to Section 1002, the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not
inconsistent with applicable law or this Trust Agreement, that each of the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes, provided, however, that such any such
action shall not materially adversely affect the interest of the
Securityholders.
Section 208. Assets of Trust.
The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
Section 209. Title to Trust Property.
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by
the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders in accordance with
this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
Section 301. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish
the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and any agent of the Property Trustee
shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the
Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits 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 Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and
subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(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 or proceeds with respect to, the
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Debentures. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the
Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
Section 401. Distributions.
(a) 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 [____________], 2001,
and, except during any Extended Interest Payment Period with respect to the
Debentures, shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on the last calendar day
of June and December of each year, commencing on [____________], 2001. 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 day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day (and without any reduction of interest or any other
payment in respect of any such acceleration), 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 401(a), a "Distribution Date").
(b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the
Trust Property. Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be payable at a rate
of [___]% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The
amount of Distributions payable for any full period shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of Distributions
for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days
elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. During any Extended Interest
Payment Period with respect to the Debentures, Distributions on the Preferred
Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extended Interest Payment
Period.
(c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Property
Trustee solely from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each
Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand and
immediately available by 12:30 p.m. on each Distribution Date in the Payment
Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(d) 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 on the relevant record date, which shall be
the 15th day of March, June, September or December for Distributions payable on
the last calendar day of the respective month; provided, however, that for any
Trust Securities held in global form, Distributions shall be payable to the
Holder thereof as of one Business Day immediately preceding the Distribution
Date.
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Section 402. Redemption.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date (other than following the
distribution of the trust debenture to the holders of the Trust Securities) and
on the maturity of the Debentures, the Trust shall 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 30 nor more than 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. The Property Trustee
shall have no responsibility for the accuracy of any CUSIP number contained in
such notice. All notices of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the CUSIP number;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be
redeemed, the identification and the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;
(v) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become
due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed
and that Distributions thereon shall cease to accumulate on and
after said date, except as provided in Section 402(d); and
(vi) the place or places at which Trust Securities are to be
surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price; and
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and
the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent
that the Trust has immediately available funds then on hand and available in the
Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any
Preferred Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption
Date, subject to Section 402(c), the Property Trustee, subject to Section
402(c), shall, with respect to Preferred Securities held in global form, deposit
with the Clearing Agency for such Preferred Securities, to the extent available
therefor, funds
19
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such Clearing
Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities. With respect to Trust Securities that are
not held in global form, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 402(c), shall
deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the Redemption Price to the record holders thereof upon surrender of their
Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions
payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for
redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they
appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities 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 Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for
redemption shall cease, except (i) the right of such Securityholders to receive
the Redemption Price, but without interest, (ii) such Trust Securities shall
cease to be Outstanding, (iii) the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities
or its nominee, as the registered Holder of the Global Preferred Securities
Certificate, shall receive a registered global certificate or certificates
representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution with respect
to Preferred Securities held by the Clearing Agency or its nominee, and (iv) any
Trust Securities Certificates not held by the Clearing Agency for the Preferred
Securities or its nominee as specified in clause (iii) above will be deemed to
represent Debentures having a principal amount equal to the stated Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities represented thereby and bearing accrued and
unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions
on such Trust Securities until such certificates are presented to the Securities
Registrar for transfer or reissuance. 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 shall be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day (and without any reduction of interest or any other payment in respect of
any such acceleration), 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 called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and
not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee,
Distributions on such Trust Securities shall continue to accumulate, at the then
applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust
for such Trust Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in
which case the actual payment date shall be the date fixed for redemption for
purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be made
to the record holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the
Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the date 15 days
prior to the relevant Redemption Date.
(f) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities unless all accumulated and unpaid distributions have been paid on all
Preferred Securities for all semi-annual distribution periods terminating on or
prior to the Redemption Date. Subject to Section 404(a), if less than all the
Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the
aggregate
20
Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated on a
pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common Securities and
the Preferred Securities. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called
for redemption, by such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the
Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to such Liquidation Amount or an
integral multiple of such Liquidation Amount in excess thereof) of the
Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than such
Liquidation Amount; provided, however, in the event the redemption relates only
to Preferred Securities purchased and held by the Depositor being redeemed in
exchange for a Like Amount of Debentures, the Property Trustee shall select
those particular Preferred Securities for redemption. The Property Trustee shall
promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities
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 Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or
is to be redeemed.
SECTION 403. [Reserved].
SECTION 404. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable)
on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be
made, subject to Section 402(f), pro rata among the Common Securities and the
Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities;
provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date any Event
of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if
applicable) on, or Redemption Price 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 Additional Amounts, if applicable) 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, 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 Additional Amounts, if applicable) on,
or the Redemption Price of, Preferred Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities shall be deemed to
have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under
this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect
to the Preferred Securities shall have been cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated. Until any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement with
respect to the Preferred Securities shall have been so
21
cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on
behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the
Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall have
the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
Section 405. Payment Procedures.
Payments of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) in
respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address
of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities
Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such
Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available
funds, which will credit the relevant accounts on the applicable Distribution
Dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such
manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Common
Securityholder.
Section 406. Tax Returns and Reports.
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), 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. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file
(or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue Service
forms required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the
Trust; and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to
each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service forms required to
be furnished to such Securityholder or the information required to be provided
on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor with a
copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing.
The Property Trustee shall comply with United States federal withholding and
backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect
to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.
Section 407. Payment of Taxes, Duties, etc. of the Trust.
Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Interest, the Property
Trustee, at the direction of an Administrative Trustee or the Depositor, shall
promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatsoever nature
(other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States or any
other taxing authority. The Depositor shall pay such additional sums necessary
in order that the amount of distributions then due and payable by the Trust on
the outstanding Preferred Securities and Common Securities of the Trust will not
be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental
charges to which the Trust has become subject.
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SECTION 408. Payments Under Indenture.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities shall be
reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder has directly
received under the Indenture pursuant to Section 514(b) or (c) hereof.
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 501. Initial Ownership.
Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 203 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 502. The Trust Securities Certificates.
The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum
denominations of the Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of the
Liquidation Amount in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates
shall be issued in denominations of the Liquidation Amount and multiples thereof
(which may, in the case of the Common Securities, include fractional amounts).
The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by
manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust
Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed,
authorized to sign 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 Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of
delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust
Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to
the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon
due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name
pursuant to Sections 504, 512 and 514.
SECTION 503. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates.
(a) On the Closing Date and on any date on which the underwriters exercise
their over-allotment option, as applicable (an "Option Closing Date"), the
Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an
aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 204 and 205, to be executed
on behalf of the Trust by at least one of the Administrative Trustees and
delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its Chief
Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or its Treasurer without
further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.
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(b) A Preferred Securities Certificate shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Property
Trustee in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto. The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Securities Certificate has been
authenticated under this Trust Agreement. Each Preferred Security Certificate
shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Upon the written order of the Trust signed by one of the Administrative
Trustees, the Property Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery the Preferred Securities Certificates.
The Property Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent acceptable to the
Trust to authenticate the Preferred Securities. An Authenticating Agent may
authenticate the Preferred Securities whenever the Property Trustee may do so.
Each reference in this Trust Agreement to authentication by the Property Trustee
includes authentication by such agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same
rights as the Property Trustee to deal with the Company or the Trust.
Section 503A. Global Preferred Security.
(a) Any Global Preferred Security issued under this Trust Agreement shall
be registered in the name of the nominee of the Clearing Agency and delivered to
such custodian therefor, and such Global Preferred Security shall constitute a
single Preferred Security for all purposes of this Trust Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, no Global
Preferred Security may be exchanged for Preferred Securities registered in the
names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee unless (i) the
Depositary notifies the Debenture Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as a depositary for such Global Preferred Securities or has ceased to
be a clearing agent registered under the Exchange Act and the Trust fails to
appoint a successor depositary within 90 days following the date on which the
Depositary ceased to be so registered, (ii) the Depositor, in its sole
discretion, on behalf of the Trust, elects to cause the issuance of the
Preferred Securities in certificated form or (iii) there shall have occurred and
be continuing a Debenture Event of Default.
(c) If a Preferred Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a
beneficial interest in a 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 Liquidation Amount thereof shall be
reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so
exchanged or canceled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount of such other
Preferred Securities to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, 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
rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security (the
"Applicable Procedures"), shall instruct the Clearing Agency or its authorized
representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such
surrender or adjustment of a Global Preferred Security by the Clearing Agency,
accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees shall
execute and the Property Trustee shall, subject to
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Section 504(b) and as otherwise provided in this Article V, authenticate and
deliver any Preferred Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Preferred
Security (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the
Clearing Agency. The Property Trustee shall not 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.
(d) Every Preferred Security executed, authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global
Preferred Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Article V or
otherwise, shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in the form of, and
shall be, a Global Preferred Security, unless such Global Preferred Security is
registered in the name of a Person other than the Clearing Agency for such
Global Preferred Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) The Clearing Agency or its nominee, as the registered owner of a
Global Preferred Security, shall be considered the Holder of the Preferred
Securities represented by such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under
this Trust Agreement and the Preferred Securities, and owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Preferred Security shall hold such interests pursuant
to the Applicable Procedures and, except as otherwise provided herein, shall not
be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Preferred Securities in
definitive form and shall not be considered the Holders thereof under this Trust
Agreement. Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in the Global
Preferred Securities shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest
shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Clearing Agency or its
nominee. Neither the Property Trustee, the Securities Registrar nor the
Depositor shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the
Clearing Agency.
(f) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred
Security shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be
limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the
Clearing Agency.
SECTION 504. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred
Securities Certificates.
(a) The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 508, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Trust Securities Certificates and, subject to the provisions of
Section 503A, transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates
(herein referred to as the "Securities Register") in which the registrar
designated by the Depositor (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 (subject
to Section 510 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and
registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as
herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities
Registrar.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 503A, upon surrender for
registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office
or agency maintained pursuant to Section 508, the
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Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute 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 dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or
Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At
the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for
other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same
class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred
Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained
pursuant to Section 508.
(c) Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange, subject to the provisions of Section 503A,
shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Property Trustee and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or
his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and
subsequently disposed of by the Property Trustee in accordance with its
customary practice. The Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the
transfer of, or exchange any Preferred Securities during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 calendar days before the date of mailing of a notice
of redemption of any Preferred Securities called for redemption and ending at
the close of business on the day of such mailing; or (ii) register the transfer
of or exchange any Preferred Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Preferred Securities being
redeemed in part.
(d) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, subject to the provisions of
Section 503A, but the Securities Registrar 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.
(e) Preferred Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Trust Agreement. Any
transfer or purported transfer of any Preferred Security not made in accordance
with this Trust Agreement shall be null and void. A Preferred Security that is
not a Global Preferred Security may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a
Person who takes delivery in the form of another Preferred Security that is not
a Global Preferred Security as provided in Section 504(a). A beneficial
interest in a Global Preferred Security may be exchanged for a Preferred
Security that is not a Global Preferred Security only as provided in Section
503A.
SECTION 505. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities
Certificates.
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to
the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence
to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities
Certificate; and (b) 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
Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by
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a bona fide purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on
behalf of the Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange
for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities
Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and
denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities
Certificate under this Section 505, 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.
Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 505
shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
SECTION 506. Persons Deemed Securityholders.
The Trustees, the Paying Agent and the Securities Registrar shall treat the
Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the
Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the
purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice
to the contrary.
SECTION 507. Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses.
At any time when the Property Trustee is not also acting as the Securities
Registrar, the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish or cause
to be furnished to the Property Trustee (a) within five Business Days of March
15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, a list, in such form as
the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Securityholders as of the most recent record date; and (b) promptly after
receipt by any Administrative Trustee or the Depositor of a request therefor
from the Property Trustee in order to enable the Property Trustee to discharge
its obligations under this Trust Agreement, in each case to the extent such
information is in the possession or control of the Administrative Trustees or
the Depositor and is not identical to a previously supplied list or has not
otherwise been received by the Property Trustee in its capacity as Securities
Registrar. The rights of Securityholders to communicate with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under
the Trust Securities, and the corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as
provided in the Trust Indenture Act. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a
Trust Securities Certificate, and each owner shall be deemed to have agreed not
to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees
accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of
the source from which such information was derived.
SECTION 508. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Administrative Trustees shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, in
the City of New York, or other location designated by the Administrative
Trustees, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities
Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and
where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust
Securities Certificates may be
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served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate the Corporate Trust
Office of the Property Trustee, [_______________], as the principal corporate
trust office for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt
written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the
location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
SECTION 509. Appointment of Paying Agent.
The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders 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 for the purpose
of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may
revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in
their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its
obligations under this Trust Agreement in any material respect. The Paying
Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and any co-paying agent chosen by
the Property Trustee must be acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the
Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as
Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the
Property Trustee and the Depositor. In the event that 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 that is acceptable to the Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as
Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The Administrative
Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent
appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees
an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent
shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent
or additional Paying Agent shall hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment
to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled
thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. 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 Sections 801, 803 and 806 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 Agreement to the
Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires
otherwise.
SECTION 510. [Reserved].
SECTION 511. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and
record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by
law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities (other than a transfer in
connection with a merger or consolidation of the Depositor into another
corporation pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Indenture) shall be void. The
Administrative Trustees shall
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cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a
legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE."
SECTION 512. Trust Securities Certificates.
(a) Upon their original issuance, Preferred Securities Certificates shall
be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Preferred
Securities Certificates which will be deposited with or on behalf of the
Clearing Agency and registered in the name of the Clearing Agency's nominee.
Unless and until it is exchangeable in whole or in part for the Preferred
Securities in definitive form, a global security may not be transferred except
as a whole by the Clearing Agency to a nominee of the Clearing Agency or by a
nominee of the Clearing Agency to the Clearing Agency or another nominee of the
Clearing Agency or by the Clearing Agency or any such nominee to a successor of
such Clearing Agency or a nominee of such successor.
(b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
SECTION 513. Notices to Clearing Agency.
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 Securities Certificate, the Trustees shall
give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to the
Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligation to provide notice to the owners of
the beneficial interest in the Global Preferred Securities.
SECTION 514. Rights of Securityholders.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 209, and
the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein 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. The Trust
Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights. When issued and
delivered to Holders of the Preferred Securities against payment of the purchase
price therefor, the Preferred Securities shall be fully paid and nonassessable
interests in the Trust. The Holders of the Preferred 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.
(b) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a
Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than [__]% in principal amount of the
29
outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to
be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least [__]% in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have such right by a
notice in writing to the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee; and upon any such
declaration such principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the
Debentures shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment
of principal and interest on such Debentures shall remain subordinated to the
extent provided in the Indenture.
(c) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, upon a
Debenture Event of Default arising from the failure to pay interest or principal
on the Debentures, the Holders of any Preferred Securities then Outstanding
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the right to directly
institute proceedings for enforcement of payment to such Holders of principal of
or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holders.
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 601. Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 601, in Sections 513, 810 and 1002
and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no record 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 Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as
to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an
association.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property Trustee on behalf
of the Trust, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to
such Debentures; (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Article VII
of the Indenture; (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration
that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable; or (iv)
consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, 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 all Outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
holder of outstanding Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be
given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder
of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Outstanding Preferred
Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify each Holder of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the
Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures. In addition to obtaining the
foregoing approvals of the
30
Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion
of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust shall
continue to be classified as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable
as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of
such action.
(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 shall 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 Outstanding Preferred Securities. No amendment to this Trust
Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, the Trust would cease
to be classified as a grantor trust or would be classified as an association
taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.
(d) No vote or consent of the Securityholders shall be required for the
Trust to redeem and cancel the Preferred Securities.
(e) Notwithstanding that the Securityholders are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described in this Section, any of the
Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, the Depositor Trust or any of their
affiliated shall not be entitled to vote or consent on any of such matters, and
shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not
outstanding.
SECTION 602. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time,
place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee
pursuant to Section 1008 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his
registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the
meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be
so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned
meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 603. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.
(a) No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to
vote on any matter in respect of which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to
vote upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of [__]% of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount)
and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in
their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any
matters as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote.
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(b) Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount), present in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.
(c) If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more
than a majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate
Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present,
either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the
Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of
affirmative votes.
SECTION 604. Voting Rights.
Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $[__] of Liquidation
Amount represented by their Trust Securities (with any fractional multiple
thereof rounded up or down as the case may be to the closest integral multiple)
in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.
SECTION 605. Proxies, etc.
At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder 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.
Only Holders 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 Securityholder 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 606. Securityholder Action by Written Consent.
Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Securityholders holding more than a majority of all
Outstanding Trust Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount)
entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof as
shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall
consent to the action in writing (based upon their aggregate Liquidation
Amount). No prior notice for such written consent shall be required to be given
to the Securityholders.
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SECTION 607. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to
notice of and to vote at any meeting or 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 or the Property Trustee may from time
to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of
Securityholders or the payment of Distribution or other action, as the case may
be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the
Securityholders of record for such purposes.
SECTION 608. Acts of Securityholders.
(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 Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more
instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in
person or by an agent 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 Securityholders
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 (subject to Section 801) conclusive in favor
of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section 608.
(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 his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his 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 which any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the
Securities Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future
Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder 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 or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
33
(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder 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) A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined
in the Guarantee), the Trust or any Person.
SECTION 609. Inspection of Records.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection at the principal
executive office of the Trust (as indicated in Section 202) by Holders of the
Trust Securities during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related
to such Holder's interest as a Holder.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 701. Representations and Warranties of the Bank and the Property
Trustee.
The Bank and the Property Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to
itself, as of the date hereof, and each successor Property Trustee at the time
of the successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Property
Trustee hereunder (in the case of a successor Property Trustee, the term "Bank"
as used herein shall be deemed to refer to such successor Property Trustee in
its separate corporate capacity), hereby represents and warrants (as applicable)
for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that:
(a) the Bank is a state chartered trust company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
(b) the Bank 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 Property Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement
of the Property Trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors, rights and to general equity principles;
34
(d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or
other action on the part of the Property Trustee and does not require any
approval of stockholders of the Bank and such execution, delivery and
performance shall not (i) violate the Bank's charter or by-laws; (ii) violate
any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a
default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any
properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any
indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument
to which the Property Trustee or the Bank is a party or by which it is bound; or
(iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or
the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking or trust powers
of the Bank or the Property Trustee (as appropriate in context) or any order,
judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the Bank;
(e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property
Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions
by the Property Trustee contemplated herein or therein 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 federal law governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank or the
Property Trustee, as the case may be, under the laws of the United States or the
State of Delaware;
(f) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Property
Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Bank or the Property
Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration
board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and
adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of
the Property Trustee to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the
Trustees under this Trust Agreement; and
(g) the Property Trustee is a Person eligible pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000.
SECTION 702. Representations and Warranties of the Delaware Bank and the
Delaware Trustee.
The Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and
as to itself, as of the date hereof, and each successor Delaware Trustee at the
time of the successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of appointment as Delaware
Trustee hereunder (the term "Delaware Bank" being used to refer to such
successor Delaware Trustee in its separate corporate capacity), hereby
represents and warrants (as applicable) for the benefit of the Depositor and the
Securityholders that:
(a) the Delaware Bank is a Delaware banking corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
35
(b) the Delaware Bank 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 Delaware Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement
of the Delaware Trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors, rights and to general equity principles;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or
other action on the part of the Delaware Trustee and does not require any
approval of stockholders of the Delaware Bank and such execution, delivery and
performance shall not (i) violate the Delaware Bank's charter or by-laws; (ii)
violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of
time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on
any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any
indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument
to which the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is
bound; or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United
States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking or
trust powers of the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in
context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Delaware Bank or the
Delaware Trustee;
(e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Delaware
Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions
by the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein or therein 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 federal law governing the banking or trust powers of the Delaware Bank
or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, under the laws of the United States
or the State of Delaware; and
(f) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Delaware
Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Delaware Bank or the
Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or
arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would
materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and
authority of the Delaware Trustee to enter into or perform its obligations as
one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 703. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Securityholders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, if applicable, on behalf of the Trust have been duly
authorized and, shall have been, duly and validly executed,
36
issued and delivered by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms and
provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust Agreement
and the Securityholders shall be, as of such date, entitled to the benefits of
this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the
Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the State of
Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance by the Bank, the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEES
SECTION 801. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided
by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by the Trust
Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust
Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their
duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if 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. No Administrative Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be liable for its
act or omissions hereunder except as a result of its own gross negligence or
willful misconduct. The Property Trustee's liability shall be determined under
the Trust Indenture Act. Whether or not therein 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 801. To the extent that, at law or in equity, the
Delaware Trustee or an Administrative Trustee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to the Securityholders,
the Delaware Trustee or such Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to the
Trust or to any Securityholder 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 Delaware Trustee
or the Administrative Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are
agreed by the Depositor and the Securityholders to replace such other duties and
liabilities of the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees, as the case
may be.
(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
Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it shall 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
37
in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 801(b) does not limit the
liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement
or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the
Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
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 not less than a
majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities relating
to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this
Trust Agreement;
(iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody,
safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures 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 and the Trust Indenture Act;
(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any
money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor 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 301 and except to the extent otherwise required by law;
and
(d) 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 negligence, default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees or the
Depositor.
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SECTION 802. Certain Notices.
(a) Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1008, notice of such Event of
Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. For purposes of
this Section 802 the term "Event of Default" means any event that is, or after
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall transmit, to the Securityholders in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1008, notice of the Depositor's
election to begin or further extend an Extended Interest Payment Period on the
Debentures (unless such election shall have been revoked) and of any election by
the Depositor to accelerate the Maturity Date of the Debentures, as defined in
the Indenture, within the time specified for transmitting such notice to the
holders of the Debentures pursuant to the Indenture as originally executed.
SECTION 803. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 801:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel,
certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of
auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, 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; or
(ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with 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
Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust
Agreement, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property
Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions
of the Depositor 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, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive
such instructions of the Depositor within 10 Business Days after it has
delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in
such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business
Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such
action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem
39
advisable and in the best interests of the Securityholders, in which event the
Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith,
negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees
contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement, the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before undertaking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other
evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on
its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which,
upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor or
the Administrative Trustees;
(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, any filing under tax or securities laws or any filing
under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration
thereof;
(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice (which
counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates) 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, such counsel may be
counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its
employees; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any
court of competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless
such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; nothing contained
herein shall, however, relieve the Property Trustee of the obligation, upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived) to
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and
to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man
would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;
(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, 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 Securityholders, but the
Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts
or matters as it may see fit;
(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 or
attorneys, and the Property Trustee shall not
40
be liable for the default or misconduct of such other agents or attorneys;
provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence
or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed 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 or taking any other action hereunder the Property
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities
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 the terms of the Trust Securities 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; and
(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. No provision of
this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the
Property 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 the Property Trustee 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. No permissive power or
authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 804. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The Recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume
any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable
for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.
SECTION 805. 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, subject to Sections 808 and 813 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 806. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
The Depositor agrees:
41
(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time compensation for all services
rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any
provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust), in the case of the Property Trustee, as set forth in a written agreement
between the Depositor and the Property Trustee;
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance as may be attributable to such Trustee's negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct (or, in the case of the Administrative Trustees or the
Delaware Trustee, any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its, his or her gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct); and
(c) to indemnify each of the Trustees or any predecessor Trustee for, and
to hold the Trustees harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability,
penalty or expense of any kind or nature whatsoever, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement,
including the 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, except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to such Trustee's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct for
(or, in the case of the Administrative Trustees or the Delaware Trustee, any
such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its, his or her
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct).
No Trustee may claim any Lien or charge on Trust Property as a result of
any amount due and unpaid pursuant to this Section 806.
SECTION 807. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of
Trustees.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect
to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. 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
807, 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 with respect to the Trust
Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 807, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article VIII. The Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) 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.
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(c) 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 with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act
through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
SECTION 808. Conflicting Interests.
If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within
the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 809. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
(a) Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, at any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part
of the Trust Property may at the time be located, the Depositor shall have power
to appoint, and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor
shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery
and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to
appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as
co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust
Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate trustee of any
such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the
instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity
aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the other provisions of this Section 809. If the Depositor does not
join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so
to do, or in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-
trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 809 shall either
be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the
United States; or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in
the United States that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind
such entity.
(b) Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and delivered
by the Depositor.
(c) Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
43
(i) The Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered and all
rights, powers, duties and obligations hereunder in respect of
the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held
by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustees
specified hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by such Trustees
and not by such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(ii) The rights, powers, duties and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property
covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon
and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee or by the
Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate trustee
jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such
co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under
any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be
performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or
unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights,
powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed
by such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing
executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor,
may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or
separate trustee appointed under this Section 809, and, in case
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee shall have the power to accept the resignation
of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without
the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of
the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property
Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all
instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate
such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or
separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the
manner provided in this Section 809.
(iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee
or any other trustee hereunder.
(v) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of
a co-trustee or separate trustee.
(vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be
deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and
separate trustee.
44
SECTION 810. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant 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 811.
(b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time with respect to the Trust Securities by giving written
notice thereof to the Securityholders. If the instrument of acceptance by the
successor Trustee required by Section 811 shall not have been delivered to the
Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation,
the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Depositor, any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee with
respect to the Trust Securities.
(c) Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common
Securityholder. If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may
be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Common Securityholder 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
cause, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder
delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or
Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, and the successor
Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 811. 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 a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securityholders, by Act of the
Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
then Outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly
appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Trust
Securities and the Trust, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 811. If an Administrative Trustee shall
resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, at a
time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to an
Administrative Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative
Trustee or Administrative Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the
Trust, and such successor Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees
shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 811. If no successor
Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall have been so
appointed by the Common Securityholder or the Preferred Securityholders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 811, any Securityholder
who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities
45
on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated may petition a court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment Trustee with respect to the Trust
Securities.
(e) The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 1008 and shall give notice to
the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
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 Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of remaining Administrative Trustees if
there are at least two of them; or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 807).
SECTION 811. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee
with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, the retiring Relevant
Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities
shall execute and deliver an instrument hereto wherein each successor Relevant
Trustee shall accept such appointment and which shall contain such provisions as
shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each
successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust and
upon the execution and delivery of such instrument the resignation or removal of
the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided
therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and
the Trust; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee such
retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money
held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust
Securities and the Trust.
(b) Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, as the case may be.
(c) No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article VIII.
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SECTION 812. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative 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 Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee
hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under
this Article VIII, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 813. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust.
If and when the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be or become
a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the
Debentures or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be subject to and shall take all actions
necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such
other obligor).
SECTION 814. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) On or before July 31 of each year, commencing July 31, 2001, the
Property Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders such reports concerning
the Property Trustee, its actions under this Trust Agreement and the property
and funds in its possession in its capacity as the Property Trustee as may be
required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the manner provided pursuant
thereto.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with The New York Stock Exchange , and
each national securities exchange or other organization upon which the Trust
Securities are listed, and also with the Commission and the Depositor.
SECTION 815. Reports to the Property Trustee.
The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form,
in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 816. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate
to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 817. Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be five, provided that the Holder of all
of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the
number of Administrative Trustees. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
may be the same Person.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 817(a), or if the
number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 817(a), a vacancy shall
occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with
Section 810.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence
or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the
Trust. 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 810, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless
of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this 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 818. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
207(a); and
(b) The Administrative 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 Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may
deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable
law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
SECTION 819. Voting.
Except as otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement, the consent or
approval of the Administrative Trustees shall require consent or approval by not
less than a majority of the Administrative Trustees, unless there are only two,
in which case both must consent.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 901. Termination Upon Expiration Date.
Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on,
December 31, 2031 (the "Expiration Date") subject to distribution of the Trust
Property in accordance with Section 904.
SECTION 902. Early Termination.
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early Termination
Event:"
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution
or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Depositor
at any time (which direction is wholly optional and within the discretion of the
Depositor, subject to Depositor having received prior approval of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System if so required under applicable
guidelines, policies or regulations thereof) to dissolve the Trust and
distribute the Debentures to Securityholders in exchange for the Preferred
Securities in accordance with Section 904;
(c) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in connection with
the redemption of all of the Debentures (whether upon a Debenture Redemption
Date or the maturity of the Debenture);
(d) an order for dissolution of the Trust shall have been entered by a
court of competent jurisdiction; or
(e) upon the distribution of Common Stock to all Securityholders upon
conversion of all outstanding Preferred Securities.
SECTION 903. Termination.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the
Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of
the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders
upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 904, or upon the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 402, of all
amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust
Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; (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
Securityholders; and (d) the filing of a Certificate of Cancellation by an
Administrative Trustee under the Delaware Business Trust Act.
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SECTION 904. Liquidation.
(a) The Depositor shall have the right at any time to dissolve the Trust
and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the
Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust.
(b) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d)
of Section 902 occurs, upon the distribution of a Like Amount of the Debentures
to the holders of Trust Securities (if the Depositor has given written
directions to the Property Trustee to dissolve the Trust) or upon the Expiration
Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as the
Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each
Securityholder a Like Amount of Debentures, subject to Section 904(e). Notice
of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the
Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address
appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust
Securities shall no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any
Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange shall
be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which
Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for
Debentures, or, if Section 904(e) applies, receive a Liquidation
Distribution, as the Administrative Trustees or the Property
Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(c) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(e) applies, in order to effect the
liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Debentures to Securityholders,
the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which
shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself
acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange
agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect
the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities
Certificates.
(d) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(e) applies, after the Liquidation
Date, (i) the Trust Securities shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding; (ii)
the Clearing Agency shall receive, in respect of each registered global
certificate, if any, representing Trust Securities held by it, a registered
global certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered
upon such distribution; (iii) certificates representing a Like Amount of
Debentures shall be issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates upon
surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for
exchange; (iv) the Depositor
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shall use its reasonable efforts to have the Debentures listed on the The New
York Stock Exchange or on such other securities exchange or other organization
as the Preferred Securities are then listed or traded; (v) any Trust Securities
Certificates not so surrendered for exchange shall be deemed to represent a Like
Amount of Debentures, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the
Debentures from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on
such Trust Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered
(and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or
principal shall be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect
to such Debentures); (vi) any certificates representing Trust Securities not
held by the Clearing Agency shall be deemed to represent Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of such Trust Securities, and
bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and
unpaid distributions on such Trust Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for cancellation, and at
such time, the Depositor shall issue to such holder, and the Trustee shall
authenticate, a certificate representing such Debentures; and (vii) all rights
of Securityholders holding Trust Securities shall cease, except the right of
such Securityholders to receive Debentures upon surrender of Trust Securities
Certificates.
(e) In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Section 904, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the
manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be
practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be
dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as the
Property Trustee determines. In such event, on the date of the dissolution,
winding-up or other termination of the Trust, Securityholders shall be entitled
to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
Securityholders, 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
dissolution, winding-up or termination, 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 shall be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such
dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with
Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority
over the Common Securities.
SECTION 905. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the
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 corporation or other Person, except pursuant
to this Section 905. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of the
Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, the Trust may merge
with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, be replaced by or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust
organized as such under the
51
laws of any state; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly
assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred
Securities and this Trust Agreement; or (b) substitutes for the Preferred
Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred
Securities (the "Successor Securities) so long as the Successor Securities rank
the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) the
Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing
substantially the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder
of the Debentures; (iii) the Successor Securities are listed or traded, or any
Successor Securities shall be listed or traded upon notification of issuance, on
any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed, if any; (iv) 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; (v)
such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
Trust; (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that (a) 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; and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither
the Trust nor such successor entity shall be required to register as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act and the Trust or successor
entity will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income
tax purposes; (vii) the Preferred Securities (including any successor
securities) are rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization prior to such transaction, such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, do not cause the
Preferred Securities (including any successor securities) or, if the Debentures
are so rated, the Debentures, to be downgraded by any such nationally recognized
statistical rating organization; (viii) an officer's certificate and an opinion
of counsel has been furnished to the Property Trustee, each to the effect that
all conditions precedent in this Trust Agreement to such transaction have been
satisfied; and (ix) the Depositor 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, the
Debentures, this Trust Agreement and the Expense Agreement. For purposes of this
Section 905, any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other
disposition as a result of which (a) the Company is not the surviving Person,
and (b) the same Person is not both (i) the primary obligor in respect of the
Debentures and (ii) the Guarantor under that certain Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement of even date herewith (the "Guarantee") between the Company
and [_______________], shall be deemed to constitute a replacement of the Trust
by a successor entity; provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event that upon the consummation of such a consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the parent company (if any) of the
Company, or its successor, is a bank holding company or financial holding
company or comparably regulated financial institution, such parent company shall
guarantee the obligations of the Trust (and any successor thereto) under the
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) at least to the extent
provided by the Guarantee, the Debentures, the Trust Agreement and the Expense
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the
consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities,
52
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 Person to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or
replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as
other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 1001. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.
The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or
otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust
Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any
Securityholder 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 1002. Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any
Securityholders, (i) as provided in Section 811 with respect to acceptance of
appointment by a successor Trustee; (ii) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provision herein or therein which may be inconsistent with any
other provision herein or therein, or to make any other provisions with respect
to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, that shall not be
inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement; or (iii) to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such
extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust shall be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that
any Trust Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust shall not be
required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act; or (iv) to reduce or increase the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security and
simultaneously to correspondingly increase or decrease the number of Trust
Securities issued and Outstanding solely for the purpose of maintaining the
eligibility of the Preferred Securities for quotation or listing on any national
securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are
then quoted or listed (including, if applicable, The New York Stock Exchange);
provided, however, that in the case of clause (ii), such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder,
and provided further, that in the case of clause (iv) the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities Outstanding upon completion of any such reduction
must be the same as the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities
Outstanding immediately prior to such reduction or increase; and any amendments
of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to
the Securityholders (or in the case of an amendment pursuant to clause (iv), as
of the date specified in the notice).
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(b) Except as provided in Section 601(c) or Section 1002(c) hereof, any
provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Debenture Trustees and
the Depositor (i) with the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not
less than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities
then Outstanding; and (ii) upon 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 shall not affect the Trust's status
as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust
Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent
being obtained in accordance with Section 603 or 606 hereof), this Trust
Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date; or (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date; notwithstanding
any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the Securityholders
(such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 603 or 606 hereof), this
paragraph (c) of this Section 1002 may not be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement
which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from
status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act or to fail or
cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in
a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the
Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such
amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property
Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers'
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement has been effected
in compliance with this Trust Agreement.
(h) So long as any Debentures are held by the Trust, the Depositor shall
not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or execute any trust or power
conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures; (ii) waive
54
any past defaults under the Indenture; (iii) exercise any rights to rescind or
annul a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the
Debentures; or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or the Debentures, where such consent shall be required without, in
each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of all outstanding Preferred Securities. However, where a
consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of
Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property
Trustee without the prior written consent of each holder of the Preferred
Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of
default which it receives with respect to the Debentures. In addition to
obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of Preferred Securities, prior
to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall obtain an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not fail
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes on account of such action.
SECTION 1003. Separability.
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust 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.
SECTION 1004. Governing Law.
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE
SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT
AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF).
SECTION 1005. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day that
is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but may
be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day, except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day (and without any reduction of interest
or any other payment in respect of any such acceleration), in each case with the
same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no
distribution shall accumulate thereon for the period after such date.
55
SECTION 1006. Successors.
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee(s),
including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under
Article XII 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 1007. Headings.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 1008. Reports, Notices and Demands.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of
this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit
thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery
or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a
Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such
Securityholder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b)
in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to AmeriCredit Corp.,
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, facsimile no. (000) 000-0000.
Any notice to Preferred Securityholders shall also be given to such owners as
have, within two years preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names
and addresses with the Property Trustee for that purpose. Such notice, demand
or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or
transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this
Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the
Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given in
writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows:
(a) with respect to the Property Trustee to [______________, ______________],
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration; (b) with respect to the Delaware
Trustee, to [____________] at the above address; and (c) with respect to the
Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the
Depositor, marked "Attention: Administrative Trustees of Capital Trust." Such
notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Property
Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual
receipt of the writing by the Trust or the Property Trustee.
56
SECTION 1009. Agreement Not to Petition.
Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the
Securityholders 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, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or
otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any
Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor or any of the Trustees takes action
in violation of this Section 1009, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit
of Securityholders, that at the expense of the Depositor (which expense shall be
paid prior to the filing), it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or
otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor or such
Trustee against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the
defense that the Depositor or such Trustee has agreed in writing not to take
such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom. The provisions of
this Section 1009 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 1010. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to
the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for
the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any
of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall
control. If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Trust Agreement as so modified
or to be excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement
shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 1011. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and
Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY
OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE
OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND
AGREEMENT TO THE
57
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE, AND
SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS
THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING,
OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH
OTHERS.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
58
AMERICREDIT CORP.
By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
[______________________________],
as Property Trustee
By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
[______________________________],
as Delaware Trustee
By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
____________________________________________
[____________], as Administrative Trustee
____________________________________________
[____________], as Administrative Trustee
59
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF AmeriCredit Capital Trust I (the "Trust") is
being duly executed and filed by [_______________], a [___________] banking
corporation, [___________] and [___________], each an individual, as trustees,
to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C.
Section 3801 et seq.) (the "Act").
1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is AmeriCredit
Capital Trust I.
2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the
Trust in the State of Delaware is [___________, ______________,
____________], Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective on
[___________], 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate of Trust
in accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.
[___________], as
trustee
By:_________________________________
Name:_______________________________
Title:______________________________
______________________, as Trustee
Name: [___________]
________________________, as Trustee
Name: [___________]
A-1
EXHIBIT B
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
Certificate Number _____ Number of Common Securities _____
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
AmeriCredit Capital Trust I
Common Securities
(liquidation amount $[__] per Common Security)
AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I, a statutory business trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that AMERICREDIT
CORP., (the "Holder") is the registered owner of _______________ (__________)
common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust and designated the Common Securities (liquidation amount
$[__] per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with
Section 511 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Common Securities are
not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof 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 Trust Agreement of the Trust dated
as of [___________], 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of the Common
Securities as set forth therein. The Trust shall 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has
executed this certificate this ___ day of ________, 2001.
AmeriCredit Capital Trust I
By: _____________________________________
Name: _____________________________________
Title: _____________________________________
B-1
EXHIBIT C
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agreement") dated as of
[___________], 2001, between AMERICREDIT CORP., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), and AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware business trust (the
"Trust").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its common securities (the "Common
Securities") to, and receive [___]% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures
(the "Debentures") from, the Company and to issue and sell AmeriCredit Capital
Trust I [___]% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") with such
powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the
Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of [___________], 2001, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Company shall directly or indirectly own all of the Common
Securities of the Trust and shall issue the Debentures;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the
Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges shall be made in reliance
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company, including in its
capacity as holder of the Common Securities, and the Trust hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.1 Guarantee by the Company.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company, including in its
capacity as holder of the Common Securities, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or
hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment when
and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such
Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders
of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts
due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other
similar interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the
benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not
such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
C-1
SECTION 1.2 Term of Agreement.
This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
the later of (a) the date on which full payment has been made of all amounts
payable to all holders of all the Preferred Securities (whether upon redemption,
liquidation, exchange or otherwise); and (b) the date on which there are no
Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue
to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
holder of Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any
sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any obligation, under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company
and [___________] as guarantee trustee or under this Agreement for any reason
whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and
absolute.
SECTION 1.3 Waiver of Notice.
The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any
obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives
presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 1.4 No Impairment.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under this
Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening
from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any
action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; or
(c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust.
There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
C-2
SECTION 1.5 Enforcement.
A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company, and
the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought
against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the
Company.
ARTICLE II
SECTION 2.1 Binding Effect.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the
successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and
shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries.
SECTION 2.2 Amendment.
So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any
series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any
manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to any of the holders of the Preferred
Securities.
SECTION 2.3 Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same by facsimile
transmission (confirmed by mail), telex, or by registered or certified mail,
addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon
receipt of an answer back, if sent by facsimile):
AmeriCredit Capital Trust I
c/o AmeriCredit Corp.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: [___________], Administrative Trustee
AmeriCredit Corp.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
C-3
SECTION 2.4 This agreement shall be governed by and construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (without regard to
conflict of laws principles).
THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
AMERICREDIT CORP.
By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I
By:_________________, as Trustee
Name:___________________________
C-4
EXHIBIT D
Certificate Number _____ Number of Preferred Securities_____
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
AmeriCredit Capital Trust I
[___]% Trust Preferred Securities
(Liquidation Amount $[__] per Preferred Security)
CUSIP No. [_________]
AmeriCredit Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
________________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of _____ preferred
securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust and designated the [___]% Trust Preferred Securities
(liquidation amount $[__] 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 504 of the
Trust Agreement (as defined herein). 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 Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of [__________],
2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"),
including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth
therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Convertible Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement entered into by AmeriCredit Corp., a Texas
corporation, and [_____________] as guarantee trustee, dated as of [__________],
2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Guarantee"), to the
extent provided therein. The Trust shall furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement
and the Guarantee 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.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication has been manually executed by the
Authentication Agent, this Certificate is not valid or effective.
D-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed
this Certificate this ___ day of _____________, 2001.
AMERICREDIT CAPITAL TRUST I
By:_______________________________
[__________], as Trustee
By:_______________________________
[__________], as Trustee
D-2
LEGEND
FOR CERTIFICATES EVIDENCING
GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITIES ONLY:
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative
of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to
Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or
payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment 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.
D-3
[FORM OF REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]
The Trust will furnish without charge to any registered owner of Preferred
Securities who so requests, a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee.
Any such request should be in writing and addressed to AmeriCredit Capital Trust
I, c/o AmeriCredit Corp., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
or to the Registrar named on the face of this Certificate.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM -- as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- under Uniform
TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties Gift to Minors
JT TEN -- as joint tenants with right of Act and not as
survival tenants
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above
list.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please insert social security or other identifying number of assignee)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(insert address and zip code of assignee)
the within Certificate and all rights and interests represented by the Preferred
Securities evidenced thereby, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
________________________________________________________________________
attorney to transfer the said Preferred Securities on the books of the within-
named Trust with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ______________________ Signature:_____________________________________
Note: The signature(s) to this
assignment must correspond with the
name(s) as written upon the face of
this Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement, or
any change whatever.
D-4
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
________________________________________________________
NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution" that is a member or participant in a "signature
guarantee program" (i.e., the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion
Program, the Stock Exchange Medallion Program or the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program).
D-5
CONVERSION REQUEST
To: ____________________, as Conversion Agent under the Trust Agreement
of AmeriCredit Capital Trust I
The undersigned owner of these Preferred Securities hereby irrevocably
exercises the option to convert these Preferred Securities, or the portion below
designated, into Common Stock of AmeriCredit Corp., (the "Common Stock") in
accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. Pursuant to the aforementioned
exercise of the option to convert these Preferred Securities, the undersigned
hereby directs the Conversion Agent (as that term is defined in the Trust
Agreement) to (i) exchange such Preferred Securities for a portion of the
Debentures (as that term is defined in the Trust Agreement) held by the Trust at
the Conversion Ratio specified in the Trust Agreement, and (ii) immediately
convert such Debentures on behalf of the undersigned, into Common Stock at the
Conversion Ratio specified in the Trust Agreement.
The undersigned also hereby directs the Conversion Agent that the shares
issuable and deliverable upon conversion, together with any check in payment for
fractional shares, be issued in the name of and delivered to the undersigned,
unless a different name has been indicated in the assignment below. If shares
are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the
undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
Date:_________________________
Number of Preferred Securities to be converted:__________
If a name or names other than the undersigned, please indicate in the spaces
below the name or names in which the shares of Common Stock are to be issued,
along with the address or addresses of such person or persons.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other
side of this Preferred Security certificate) (for
conversion of definitive Preferred Securities only)
D-6
Please print or Typewrite Name and Address,
Including Zip Code, and Social Security or
Other Identifying Number.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Signature Guarantee:*______________________________
_______________
*(Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution* that is, a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the
requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
D-7
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the [____]% Trust Preferred Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Trust Agreement.
[_________________________],
as Authentication Agent and Registrar
By:_____________________________
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
E-1
