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EXHIBIT 4.3
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EAGLE BANCSHARES, INC.
AND
SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA,
AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE
INDENTURE
___% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2028
DATED AS OF JULY _____, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
RECITALS
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions of Terms..............................................................1
ARTICLE II.
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF THE DEBENTURES
Section 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount.................................................7
Section 2.2. Maturity.........................................................................8
Section 2.3. Form and Payment.................................................................8
Section 2.4. Interest.........................................................................8
Section 2.5. Execution and Authentications....................................................8
Section 2.6. Registration of Transfer and Exchange............................................9
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures............................................................10
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.................................10
Section 2.9. Cancellation....................................................................11
Section 2.10. Benefit of Indenture............................................................11
Section 2.11. Authentication Agent............................................................11
ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES
Section 3.1. Redemption......................................................................12
Section 3.2. Special Event Redemption........................................................12
Section 3.3. Optional Redemption by Company..................................................12
Section 3.4. Notice of Redemption............................................................12
Section 3.5. Payment upon Redemption.........................................................13
Section 3.6. No Sinking Fund.................................................................13
ARTICLE IV.
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
Section 4.1. Extension of Interest Payment Period............................................14
Section 4.2. Notice of Extension.............................................................14
Section 4.3. Limitation on Transactions......................................................14
ARTICLE V.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 5.1. Payment of Principal and Interest...............................................15
Section 5.2. Maintenance of Agency...........................................................15
Section 5.3. Paying Agents...................................................................15
Section 5.4. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee................................16
Section 5.5. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions........................................16
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Section 5.6. Limitation on Transactions.......................................................16
Section 5.7. Covenants as to the Trust........................................................16
Section 5.8. Covenants as to Purchases........................................................17
ARTICLE VI.
DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names
and Addresses of Debentureholders................................................17
Section 6.2. Preservation of Information Communications with Debentureholders.................17
Section 6.3. Reports by the Company...........................................................17
Section 6.4. Reports by the Trustee...........................................................18
ARTICLE VII.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 7.1. Events of Default................................................................18
Section 7.2. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee..................19
Section 7.3. Application of Moneys Collected..................................................20
Section 7.4. Limitation on Suits..............................................................21
Section 7.5. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.....................21
Section 7.6. Control by Debentureholders......................................................22
Section 7.7. Undertaking to Pay Costs.........................................................22
ARTICLE VIII.
FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE
Section 8.1. Form of Debenture................................................................23
Section 8.2. Original Issue of Debentures.....................................................23
ARTICLE IX.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 9.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee...............................23
Section 9.2. Notice of Defaults...............................................................24
Section 9.3. Certain Rights of Trustee........................................................24
Section 9.4. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Etc........................................25
Section 9.5. May Hold Debentures..............................................................25
Section 9.6. Moneys Held in Trust.............................................................25
Section 9.7. Compensation and Reimbursement...................................................25
Section 9.8. Reliance on Officers' Certificate................................................26
Section 9.9. Disqualification: Conflicting Interests.........................................26
Section 9.10. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.........................................26
Section 9.11. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor...............................26
Section 9.12. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor..........................................27
Section 9.13. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.....................28
Section 9.14. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company...........................28
ARTICLE X.
CONCERNING THE DEBENTUREHOLDERS
Section 10.1. Evidence of Action by Holders...................................................28
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Section 10.2. Proof of Execution by Debentureholders..........................................29
Section 10.3. Who May Be Deemed Owners........................................................29
Section 10.4. Certain Debentures Owned by Company Disregarded.................................29
Section 10.5. Actions Binding on Future Debentureholders......................................29
ARTICLE XI.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 11.1. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Debentureholders.................30
Section 11.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Debentureholders........................30
Section 11.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures...............................................31
Section 11.4. Debentures Affected by Supplemental Indentures..................................31
Section 11.5. Execution of Supplemental Indentures............................................31
ARTICLE XII.
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 12.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc....................................................32
Section 12.2. Successor Corporation Substituted...............................................32
Section 12.3. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee......................................32
ARTICLE XIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 13.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.........................................33
Section 13.2. Discharge of Obligations........................................................33
Section 13.3. Deposited Moneys to Be Held in Trust............................................33
Section 13.4. Payment of Monies Held by Paying Agents.........................................33
Section 13.5. Repayment to Company............................................................33
ARTICLE XIV.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
Section 14.1. No Recourse.....................................................................34
ARTICLE XV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.1. Effect on Successors and Assigns................................................34
Section 15.2. Actions by Successor............................................................34
Section 15.3. Surrender of Company Powers.....................................................34
Section 15.4. Notices.........................................................................34
Section 15.5. Governing Law...................................................................35
Section 15.6. Treatment of Debentures as Debt.................................................35
Section 15.7. Compliance Certificates and Opinions............................................35
Section 15.8. Payments on Business Days.......................................................35
Section 15.9. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act...............................................35
Section 15.10. Counterparts....................................................................35
Section 15.11. Separability....................................................................35
Section 15.12. Assignment......................................................................36
Section 15.13. Acknowledgment of Rights........................................................36
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ARTICLE XVI.
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
Section 16.1. Agreement to Subordinate........................................................36
Section 16.2. Default on Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt
or Additional Senior Obligations................................................36
Section 16.3. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy............................................36
Section 16.4. Subrogation.....................................................................37
Section 16.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.............................................38
Section 16.6. Notice by the Company...........................................................38
Section 16.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness...........................39
Section 16.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired...............................................39
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INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of July , 1998, between EAGLE BANCSHARES, INC., a
unitary thrift holding company organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Georgia (the "Company") and SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, a banking
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the state of Georgia,
as trustee (the "Trustee").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the
issuance of securities to be known as its ____% Subordinated Debentures due
December 31, 2028 (hereinafter referred to as the "Debentures"), the form and
substance of such Debentures and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to
be set forth as provided in this Indenture;
WHEREAS, EBI CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Trust"), has offered to the public $25 million (or $28,750,000 if the
underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised) aggregate liquidation amount
of its Preferred Securities (as defined herein) and proposes to invest the
proceeds from such offering, together with the proceeds of the issuance and sale
by the Trust to the Company of $773,196 (or $889,175 if the underwriters' over-
allotment option is exercised) aggregate liquidation amount of its Common
Securities (as defined herein), in $25,773,196 (or $29,639,175 if the
underwriters' over-allotment is exercised) aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures;
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver
this Indenture;
WHEREAS, all requirements necessary to make this Indenture a valid
instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Debentures, when
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the
valid obligations of the Company, have been performed, and the execution and
delivery of this Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Debentures
are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized
the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement
of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of
the Debentures by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as
follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions of Terms. The terms defined in this Section
1.1 (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any
indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in
this Section 1.1 and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other
terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or
that are by reference in the Trust Indenture Act defined in the Securities Act
(except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture
Act and in the Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this
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instrument. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
"Additional Senior Obligations" means all indebtedness of the Company
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products such as interest and
foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements;
provided, however, that Additional Senior Obligations does not include claims in
respect of Senior Debt or Subordinated Debt or obligations which, by their
terms, are expressly stated to be not superior in right of payment to the
Debentures or to rank pari passu in right of payment with the Debentures. For
purposes of this definition, "claim" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended.
"Administrative Trustees" shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
"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.
"Applicable Bank Regulatory Authority" means the Office of Thrift
Supervision or other bank regulatory authority then having regulatory authority
over the Company.
"Authenticating Agent" means an authenticating agent with respect to
the Debentures appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.11.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or
state law enacted for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
duly authorized committee of such Board or any other duly designated officers of
the Company.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.
"Business Day" means, with respect to the Debentures, any day other
than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which federal or state banking
institutions in Atlanta, Georgia, are authorized or required by law, executive
order or regulation to close, or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee or the Property Trustee is closed for business.
"Capital Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel
experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the Company) that the
Company cannot, or within 90 days after the date of the Opinion of such Counsel
will not, be permitted by the applicable regulatory authorities, due to a change
in law, regulation, policy or guideline or interpretation or application of law
or regulation, policy or guideline, to account for the
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Preferred Securities as Tier 1 capital under the capital guidelines or policies
of the Applicable Bank Regulatory Authority.
"Certificate" means a certificate signed by the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer, the
treasurer or any vice president of the Company. The Certificate need not comply
with the provisions of Section 15.7.
"Change in 1940 Act Law" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Investment Company Event."
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust which rank pari passu with the Preferred Securities; provided,
however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders
of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders
of Preferred Securities.
"Company" means Eagle Bancshares, Inc., a savings and loan holding
company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia, and,
subject to the provisions of Article XII, shall also include its successors and
assigns.
"Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which, at
any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000.
"Coupon Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Debentures" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Debentureholder," "holder of Debentures," "registered holder," or
other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a
particular Debenture shall be registered on the books of the Company or the
Trustee kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
"Debenture Register" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.6(b).
"Debt" means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or
a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every
obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; and (vi) every
obligation of the type referred to
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in clauses (i) through (v) of another Person and all dividends of another Person
the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse
of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Deferred Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Dissolution Event" means that as a result of the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance with
the Trust Agreement and the Debentures held by the Property Trustee are to be
distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust pro rata
in accordance with the Trust Agreement.
"Event of Default" means, with respect to the Debentures, any event
specified in Section 7.1, which has continued for the period of time, if any,
and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
"Exchange Act," means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.
"Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" means such accounting
principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation required
hereunder.
"Governmental Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged; or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and
credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not
callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of
the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental
Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such
Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of
such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of
principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such
depositary receipt.
"Herein," "hereof," and "hereunder," and other words of similar import,
refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
other subdivision.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any installment of
interest on the Debentures, means the date specified in the Debenture or in a
Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to the
Debentures as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to
the Debentures is due and payable.
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"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 of an Opinion
of Counsel, rendered by a law firm experienced in such matters (which may be
counsel to the Company), to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law
or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), the Trust is or shall be considered an
"investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date
of original issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement.
"Maturity Date" means the date on which the Debentures mature and on
which the principal shall be due and payable together with all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon including Compounded Interest and Additional Interest,
if any.
"Ministerial Action" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President or
a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the
Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms
hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in
Section 15.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who
may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the
Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the
statements provided for in Section 15.7, if and to the extent required by the
provisions thereof.
"Outstanding," when used with reference to the Debentures, means,
subject to the provisions of Section 10.4, as of any particular time, all
Debentures theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this
Indenture, except (a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any
paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation
or that have previously been canceled; (b) Debentures or portions thereof for
the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the
necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any
paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and
segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying
agent); provided, however, that if such Debentures or portions of such
Debentures are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such
redemption shall have been given as in Article III provided, or provision
satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c)
Debentures in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have
been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint-venture,
joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Predecessor Debenture" means every previous Debenture evidencing all
or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture;
and, for the purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and
delivered under Section 2.8 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture
shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen
Debenture.
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"Preferred Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the
Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions
and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company
may enter into with the Trustee or other Persons that operate directly or
indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, the Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any
other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be
such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred
because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Scheduled Maturity Date" means December 31, 2028.
"Securities Act," means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as in
effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or
not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on
Debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant
to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not
superior in right of payment to the Debentures or to other Debt which is pari
passu with, or subordinated to, the Debentures; provided, however, that Senior
Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) any Debt of the Company which when
incurred and without respect to any election under section 1111(b) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Company;
(ii) any Debt of the Company to any of its subsidiaries; (iii) any Debt to any
employee of the Company; (iv) any Debt which by its terms is subordinated to
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business to the extent that payments made to the holders of such Debt by the
holders of the Debentures as a result of the subordination provisions of this
Indenture would be greater than they otherwise would have been as a result of
any obligation of such holders to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business as a result of subordination provisions to which such Debt is subject;
and (v) any Debt which constitutes Subordinated Debt.
"Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event, a Capital Event or an Investment
Company Event.
"Subordinated Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or
not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on
Debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred, which is by its terms expressly provided to be junior and subordinate
to other Debt of the Company (other than the Debentures).
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"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at
least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or
by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any general
partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose
outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such
Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more
of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or
any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel,
rendered by a law firm experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the
Company), 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 official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or
decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Preferred
Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Trust is, or shall be within 90 days after the date of such Opinion
of Counsel, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on
the Debentures is not, or within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of
Counsel, shall not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for
United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or shall be
within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to more than a
de minimis amount of other taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges. The Trust or the Company shall request and receive an Opinion of
Counsel with regard to such matters within a reasonable period of time after the
Trust or the Company shall have become aware of the possible occurrence of any
of the events described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
"Trust" means EBI CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
July , 1998, of the Trust.
"Trustee" means SunTrust Bank, Atlanta and, subject to the provisions
of Article IX, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any
time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, "Trustee"
shall mean each such Person.
"Trust Indenture Act," means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2, and 12.1, as in
effect at the date of execution of this Indenture.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and Preferred
Securities, collectively.
"Voting Stock," as applied to stock of any Person, means shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however
designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a
majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason
of the occurrence of a contingency.
ARTICLE II.
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF THE DEBENTURES
Section 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount. There is hereby
authorized Debentures designated the "___% Subordinated Debentures due December
31, 2028," limited in aggregate principal amount to
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$25,773,196 (or $29,639,175 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised), which amount shall be as set forth in any written order of the
Company for the authentication and delivery of Debentures pursuant to Section
2.5.
Section 2.2. Maturity. The Maturity Date shall be the Scheduled
Maturity Date.
Section 2.3. Form and Payment. The Debentures shall be issued in fully
registered certificated form without interest coupons. Principal and interest on
the Debentures issued in certificated form shall be payable, the transfer of
such Debentures shall be registrable and such Debentures shall be exchangeable
for Debentures bearing identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of
the Trustee; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the holder at such address as shall
appear in the Debenture Register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by
the holder as specified in the Debenture Register, provided that the holder
provides proper transfer instructions by the regular record date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of any Debentures is the
Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest (including
Compounded Interest and Additional Interest, if any) on such Debentures held by
the Property Trustee shall be made at such place and to such account as may be
designated by the Property Trustee.
Section 2.4. Interest. (a) Each Debenture shall bear interest at the
rate of ___% per annum (the "Coupon Rate") from the original date of issuance
until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue
principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the Coupon Rate,
compounded quarterly, payable (subject to the provisions of Article IV)
quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year (each, an "Interest Payment Date") commencing on September 30, 1998, to the
Person in whose name such Debenture or any Predecessor Debenture is registered,
at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest
installment, which shall be the fifteenth day of the last month of the calendar
quarter.
(b) The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the
following sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a
full quarterly period for which interest is computed, shall be computed on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such period. In the event that any
date on which interest is payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then
payment of interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding
day which 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 next succeeding day
which is a Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date such payment was originally payable.
(c) If, at any time while the Property Trustee is the holder of any
Debentures, the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any case, the Company shall pay as additional interest ("Additional
Interest") on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, such additional
amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by
the Trust and the Property Trustee after paying such taxes, duties, assessments
or other governmental charges shall be equal to the amounts the Trust and the
Property Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or
other government charges been imposed.
Section 2.5. Execution and Authentications. (a) The Debentures shall be
signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, President or one of its Vice
Presidents, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or one of its
Assistant Secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile
signature.
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The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a
Chairman, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have
been a Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that
at the time the Debentures shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of
such Person shall have ceased to be the Chairman, President or a Vice President,
or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. The seal of the
Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be impressed,
affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debentures. The Debentures may
contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange
rule or usage. Each Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication by
the Trustee.
(b) A Debenture shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an
authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such
signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has
been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled
to the benefits of this Indenture.
(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery
of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Debentures executed by the Company to
the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for
the authentication and delivery of such Debentures signed by its Chairman,
President or any Vice President and its Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer,
and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and
deliver such Debentures.
(d) In authenticating such Debentures and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 9.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and
terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture.
(e) The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Debentures
if the issue of such Debentures pursuant to this Indenture shall affect the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Debentures and this
Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee.
Section 2.6. Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) Debentures may
be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company
designated for such purpose in Atlanta, Georgia, for other Debentures and for a
like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this
Section 2.6. In respect of any Debentures so surrendered for exchange, the
Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency
shall deliver in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures that the
Debentureholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing
numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or
agency designated for such purpose in Atlanta, Georgia, or such other location
designated by the Company, a register or registers (herein referred to as the
"Debenture Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company shall register the Debentures and the transfers of
Debentures as in this Article II provided and which at all reasonable times
shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of
registering Debentures and transfer of Debentures as herein provided initially
will be the Trustee. The registrar thereafter may be appointed as authorized by
Board Resolution (the "Debenture Registrar"). Upon surrender for transfer of any
Debenture at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose,
the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or
agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new
Debenture or Debentures for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures
presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided
in this Section 2.6, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the
Debenture Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form
satisfactory
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to the Company or the Debenture Registrar, duly executed by the registered
holder or by such holder's duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debentures, or issue of new Debentures in case of partial
redemption, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges
pursuant to Section 2.7, Section 3.5(b) and Section 11.4 not involving any
transfer.
(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or
register the transfer of any Debentures during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
less than all the Outstanding Debentures and ending at the close of business on
the day of such mailing; nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Debentures or portions thereof called for redemption.
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures. Pending the preparation of
definitive Debentures, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, temporary Debentures (printed, lithographed, or
typewritten). Such temporary Debentures shall be substantially in the form of
the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued, but with such
omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary
Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Debenture
shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the
same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as
the definitive Debentures. Without unnecessary delay the Company shall execute
and shall furnish definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary
Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the
holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in
Atlanta, Georgia, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency
shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Debentures an equal aggregate
principal amount of definitive Debentures, unless the Company advises the
Trustee to the effect that definitive Debentures need not be executed and
furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the
temporary Debentures shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture
as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures. (a) In
case any temporary or definitive Debenture shall become mutilated or be
destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence)
shall execute, and upon the Company's request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid)
shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated
Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed,
lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall
furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of
destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and
the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
the applicant's Debenture and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may
authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the
written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the
issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of
the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Debenture that has matured or is
about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the
Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the
payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated
Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and
the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them
harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the
satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.
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(b) Every replacement Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2.8 shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the
Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall
be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned
upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Debentures, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights
or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to
the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable
instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.9. Cancellation. All Debentures surrendered for the purpose
of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if
surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no
Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or
permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company
at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled
Debentures held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may
dispose of canceled Debentures in accordance with its standard procedures and
deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall
otherwise acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not
operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such
Debentures unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
Section 2.10. Benefit of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the
Debentures, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any
Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Debentures (and,
with respect to the provisions of Article XVI, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect
of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein
contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole
benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Debentures (and, with
respect to the provisions of Article XVI, the holders of Senior Indebtedness).
Section 2.11. Authentication Agent. (a) So long as any of the
Debentures remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or
all such Debentures, which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said
Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to
authenticate Debentures issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption
thereof, and Debentures so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of
this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if
authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the
authentication of Debentures by the Trustee shall be deemed to include
authentication by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital
and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the
laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing
business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under
such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination
by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign
immediately.
(b) Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any
Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or
cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an
eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor
Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if
originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
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ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES
Section 3.1. Redemption. Subject to the Company's having received prior
approval of the Applicable Bank Regulatory Authority, if then required under the
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Applicable Bank Regulatory
Authority, the Company may redeem the Debentures issued hereunder on and after
the dates set forth in and in accordance with the terms of this Article III.
Section 3.2. Special Event Redemption. Subject to the Company's having
received the prior approval of the Applicable Bank Regulatory Authority, if then
required under the applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Applicable
Bank Regulatory Authority, if a Special Event has occurred and is continuing,
then, notwithstanding Section 3.3(a) but subject to Section 3.3(b), the Company
shall have the right upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice
to the holders of the Debentures to redeem the Debentures, in whole but not in
part, for cash within 180 days following the occurrence of such Special Event
(the "180-Day Period") at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal
amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date
of such redemption (the "Redemption Price"), provided that if at the time there
is available to the Company the opportunity to eliminate, within the 180-Day
Period, a Tax Event by taking some ministerial action (a "Ministerial Action"),
such as filing a form or making an election, or pursuing some other similar
reasonable measure which has no adverse effect on the Company, the Trust or the
holders of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust, the Company shall pursue
such Ministerial Action in lieu of redemption. The Redemption Price shall be
paid prior to 12:00 noon, Atlanta, Georgia time, on the date of such redemption
or such earlier time as the Company determines, provided that the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price by
10:00 a.m., Atlanta, Georgia time, on the date such Redemption Price is to be
paid.
Section 3.3. Optional Redemption by Company. (a) Subject to the
provisions of Section 3.3(b), except as otherwise may be specified in this
Indenture, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole
or in part, from time to time, on or after September 30, 2003, at a Redemption
Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and
unpaid interest thereon to the date of such redemption. Any redemption pursuant
to this Section 3.3(a) shall be made upon not less than 30 days' nor more than
60 days' notice to the holder of the Debentures, at the Redemption Price. If the
Debentures are only partially redeemed pursuant to this Section 3.3, the
Debentures shall be redeemed pro rata or by lot or in such other manner as the
Trustee shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion. The Redemption Price
shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, Atlanta, Georgia time, on the date of such
redemption or at such earlier time as the Company determines provided that the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the
Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., Atlanta, Georgia time, on the date such
Redemption Price is to be paid.
(b) If a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from the American
Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange or other organization on
which the Preferred Securities are then listed, the Company shall not be
permitted to effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Debentures
in whole.
Section 3.4. Notice of Redemption. (a) In case the Company shall desire
to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the
Debentures in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or
shall cause the Trustee to upon receipt of 45 days' written notice from the
Company, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Debentures to be
redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption
not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for
redemption to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the
Debenture Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Debentures to be
redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered
holder receives the notice. In any
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case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Debenture designated
for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not
affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
Debentures. In the case of any redemption of Debentures prior to the expiration
of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Debentures
or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction. Each such
notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the
Redemption Price and shall state that payment of the Redemption Price shall be
made at the office or agency of the Company in Atlanta, Georgia or at the
Corporate Trust Office, upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that
interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption shall be paid as specified in
said notice and that from and after said date interest shall cease to accrue. If
less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of
the Debentures shall specify the particular Debentures to be redeemed. If the
Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice shall state the portion
of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after
the redemption date, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or
Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be
issued.
(b) If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company
shall give the Trustee at least 45 days' notice in advance of the date fixed for
redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed,
and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it
shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion, the portion or portions
(equal to $25.00 or any integral multiple thereof) of the Debentures to be
redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the
numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may,
if and whenever it shall so elect pursuant to the terms hereof, by delivery of
instructions signed on its behalf by its Chairman, its President or any Vice
President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of
the Debentures for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set
forth in this Section 3.4, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its
own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in
which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying
agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to
remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such
Debenture Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or
extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to
give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this
Section 3.4.
Section 3.5. Payment upon Redemption. (a) If the giving of notice of
redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Debentures or
portions of Debentures to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due
and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable
Redemption Price, and interest on such Debentures or portions of Debentures
shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the
Company shall default in the payment of such Redemption Price with respect to
any such Debenture or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such
Debentures on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment
specified in the notice, said Debentures shall be paid and redeemed at the
Redemption Price (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment
date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the
registered holder at the close of business on the applicable interest payment
date).
(b) Upon presentation of any Debenture that is to be redeemed in part
only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the
office or agency where the Debenture is presented shall deliver to the holder
thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture of authorized
denomination in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the
Debenture so presented.
Section 3.6. No Sinking Fund. The Debentures are not entitled to the
benefit of any sinking fund.
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ARTICLE IV.
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
Section 4.1. Extension of Interest Payment Period. The Company shall
have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the
Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment
period of such Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters
(the "Extended Interest Payment Period"), during which Extended Interest Payment
Period no interest shall be due and payable; provided that no Extended Interest
Payment Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, interest, the payment of which has been deferred because of the
extension of the interest payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, shall
bear interest thereon at the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly for each quarter
of the Extended Interest Payment Period ("Compounded Interest"). At the end of
the Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall calculate (and deliver
such calculation to the Trustee) and pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures, including any Additional Interest and Compounded Interest (together,
"Deferred Interest") that shall be payable to the holders of the Debentures in
whose names the Debentures are registered in the Debenture Register on the first
record date after the end of the Extended Interest Payment Period. Before the
termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may further
extend such period, provided that such period together with all such further
extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters, or extend beyond
the Maturity Date of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extended
Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest then due,
the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the
foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extended
Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof, but the Company may prepay
at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during an Extended
Interest Payment Period.
Section 4.2. Notice of Extension. (a) If the Property Trustee is the
only registered holder of the Debentures at the time the Company selects an
Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall give written notice to the
Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Trustee of its selection
of such Extended Interest Payment Period one Business Day before the earlier of
(i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Trust Securities
issued by the Trust are payable; or (ii) the date the Trust is required to give
notice of the record date, or the date such Distributions are payable, to the
American Stock Exchange Inc. (AMEX) or other applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, but
in any event at least one Business Day before such record date.
(b) If the Property Trustee is not the only holder of the Debentures at
the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company
shall give the holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice of its
selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period at least one Business Day
before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or (ii) the
date the Company is required to give notice of the record or payment date of
such interest payment to the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) or other applicable
self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Debentures.
(c) The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a)
or (b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted
in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under Section 4.1.
Section 4.3. Limitation on Transactions. If (i) the Company shall
exercise its right to defer payment of interest as provided in Section 4.1; or
(ii) there shall have occurred any Event of Default, then (a) the Company shall
not declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock (other than as a result of a reclassification of its capital
stock for another class of its capital stock) and (b) the Company shall not make
any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities issued by the Company
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which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing the Company may make payments pursuant to its
obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (c) the Company shall
not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the outstanding Debentures or
any of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE V.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 5.1. Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company shall duly
and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and interest on the
Debentures at the time and place and in the manner provided herein.
Section 5.2. Maintenance of Agency. So long as any of the Debentures
remain Outstanding, the Company shall maintain, or shall cause to be maintained,
an office or agency in Atlanta, Georgia, and at such other location or locations
as may be designated as provided in this Section 5.2, where (i) Debentures may
be presented for payment; (ii) Debentures may be presented as hereinabove
authorized for registration of transfer and exchange; and (iii) notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures and this Indenture
may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office
or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its Chairman, its
President or a Vice President and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other
office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and
demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and
the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, notices and demands. In addition to any such office or agency,
the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies
outside of Atlanta, Georgia, where the Debentures may be presented for
registration or transfer and for exchange in the manner provided herein, and the
Company may from time to time rescind such designation as the Company may deem
desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or
rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain
any such office or agency in Atlanta, Georgia, for the purposes above mentioned.
The Company shall give the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation
or rescission thereof.
Section 5.3. Paying Agents. (a) The Trustee shall be the initial paying
agent. If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for the
Debentures, other than the Trustee, the Company shall cause each such paying
agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent
shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 5.3:
(i) that it shall hold all sums held by it as such
agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the
Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the
Company or by any other obligor of such Debentures) in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(ii) that it shall give the Trustee notice of any
failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such
Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of or
interest on the Debentures when the same shall be due and
payable;
(iii) that it shall, at any time during the continuance
of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(ii)
above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay
to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent;
and
(iv) that it shall perform all other duties of paying
agent as set forth in this Indenture.
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to
the Debentures, it shall on or before each due date of the principal of or
interest on such Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal
or interest so becoming due on Debentures until such sums shall be paid to such
Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify
the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such
Debentures) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more
paying agents for the Debentures, it shall, prior to each due date of the
principal of or interest on any Debentures, deposit with the paying agent a sum
sufficient to pay the principal or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal or interest,
and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify
the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.3 to the contrary, (i)
the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 5.3 is subject
to the provisions of Section 13.3 and 13.4; and (ii) the Company may at any
time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to
the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such
sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon
which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such
payment by any paying agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be released
from all further liability with respect to such money.
Section 5.4. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee. The
Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee,
shall appoint, in the manner provided in Section 9.11, a Trustee, so that there
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 5.5. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions. The Company
shall not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or
merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of
its property to any other company unless the provisions of Article XII hereof
are complied with.
Section 5.6. Limitation on Transactions. If Debentures are issued to
the Trust or a trustee of the Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust
Securities by the Trust and (i) there shall have occurred any event that would
constitute an Event of Default; (ii) the Company shall be in default with
respect to its payment of any obligations under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee relating to the Trust; or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of
its election to defer payments of interest on such Debentures by extending the
interest payment period as provided in this Indenture and such period, or any
extension thereof, shall be continuing, then (a) the Company shall not declare
or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its
capital stock (other than as a result of a reclassification of its capital
stock) and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or
premium, if any, or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by
the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures; provided,
however, that the Company may make payments pursuant to its obligations under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (c) the Company shall not redeem,
purchase or acquire less than all of the outstanding Debentures or any of the
Preferred Securities.
Section 5.7. Covenants as to the Trust. For so long as such Trust
Securities of the Trust remain outstanding, the Company shall (i) maintain 100%
direct or indirect ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust; provided,
however, that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may
succeed to the Company's ownership of the Common Securities; (ii) not
voluntarily terminate, wind up or liquidate the Trust, except upon prior
approval of the Applicable Bank Regulatory Authority if then so required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Applicable Bank Regulatory
Authority and use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a
business trust, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures, the
redemption
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of all of the Trust Securities of the Trust or certain mergers, consolidations
or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Trust Agreement; and (b) to otherwise
continue not to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
partnership for United States federal income tax purposes; and (iii) use its
reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as
owning an individual beneficial interest in the Debentures. In connection with
the distribution of the Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities
issued by the Trust upon a Dissolution Event, the Company shall use its best
efforts to list such Debentures on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) or on such
other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
Section 5.8. Covenants as to Purchases. Prior to September 30, 2003,
the Company shall not purchase any Debentures, in whole or in part, from the
Trust, except if a Capital Event, a Tax Event or Investment Company Event has
occurred.
ARTICLE VI.
DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of
Debentureholders. The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee (a) on a monthly basis on each regular record date a list, in such form
as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders
of the Debentures as of such regular record date, provided that the Company
shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that
the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to
the Trustee by the Company; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may
request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either
case, no such list need be furnished if the Trustee shall be the Debenture
Registrar.
Section 6.2. Preservation of Information Communications with
Debentureholders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the
holders of Debentures contained in the most recent list furnished to it as
provided in Section 6.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of
Debentures received by the Trustee in its capacity as registrar for the
Debentures (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 6.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Debentureholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act with other Debentureholders with respect to their rights
under this Indenture or under the Debentures.
Section 6.3. Reports by the Company. (a) The Company covenants and
agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to
file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the
information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of
the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations
prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not
required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such
sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with
the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such
of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be
required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security
listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed
from time to time in such rules and regulations.
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(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time
by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided
for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and
regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service that provides for
evidence of receipt, to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses
appear upon the Debenture Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with
the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required
to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
6.3 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by
the Commission.
Section 6.4. Reports by the Trustee. (a) On or before July 15 in each
year in which any of the Debentures are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit
by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Debentureholders, as their names
and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register, a brief report dated as of the
preceding May 15, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Debentureholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock
exchange upon which any Debentures are listed (if so listed) and also with the
Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Debentures become
listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE VII.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 7.1. Events of Default. (a) Whenever used herein with respect
to the Debentures, "Event of Default" means any one or more of the following
events that has occurred and is continuing:
(i) the Company defaults in the payment of any
installment of interest upon any of the Debentures, as and
when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of
such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that
a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company
in accordance with the terms of this Indenture shall not
constitute a default in the payment of interest for this
purpose;
(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the
principal on the Debentures as and when the same shall become
due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by
declaration or otherwise; provided, however, that a valid
extension of the maturity of such Debentures in accordance
with the terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a
default in the payment of principal;
(iii) the Company fails to observe or perform any other
of its covenants or agreements with respect to the Debentures
for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice
of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating
that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder, shall
have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered
or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Debentures
at the time Outstanding;
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(iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of
any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case; (ii)
consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case; (iii) consents to the appointment of a
Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its
property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit
of its creditors;
(v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order
under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the
Company in an involuntary case; (ii) appoints a Custodian of
the Company for all or substantially all of its property; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or
decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(vi) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily
dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its
existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of
Debentures to holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of
their interests in the Trust; (ii) the redemption of all of
the outstanding Trust Securities of the Trust; or (iii)
certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as
permitted by the Trust Agreement.
(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the
Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by such Debentureholders) may declare the principal of all the
Debentures to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the
same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding
anything contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures.
(c) At any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been
so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment
of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided,
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has
paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of any and
all Debentures that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest upon such principal, and, to the extent that such payment is
enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the
rate per annum expressed in the Debentures to the date of such payment or
deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and (ii) any
and all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of
principal on Debentures that shall not have become due by their terms, shall
have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 7.6. No such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with
respect to Debentures under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been
discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any
other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in
every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to
their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers
of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had
been taken.
Section 7.2. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee. (a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the
payment of any installment of interest on any of the Debentures, and such
default shall have continued for a period of 90 Business Days; or (ii) in case
it shall default in the payment of the principal of any of the Debentures when
the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the
Debentures or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon
demand of the
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Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of
the Debentures, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on
all such Debentures for principal or interest, or both, as the case may be, with
interest upon the overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by
the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, without duplication of any other amounts
paid by the Trust or trustee in respect thereof) upon overdue installments of
interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Debentures; and, in addition
thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the
Debentures and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the
manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon
the Debentures, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings
affecting the Company or the creditors or property of either, the Trustee shall
have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may
be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law)
be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may
be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the
holders of the Debentures allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the
Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and
for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after
such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of
the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and any receiver, assignee
or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the
holders of the Debentures to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to
such Debentureholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section
9.7.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture,
or under any of the terms established with respect to Debentures, may be
enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Debentures, or the
production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any
such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 9.7, be
for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures. In case of an Event of
Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise,
whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in
this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture,
or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this
Indenture or by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any
Debentureholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Debentures or the rights of any holder thereof or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Debentureholder in
any such proceeding.
Section 7.3. Application of Moneys Collected. Any moneys collected by
the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII with respect to the Debentures shall be
applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and,
in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal or interest,
upon presentation
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of the Debentures, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and
upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and
of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7;
SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company if and to the extent required by Article XVI; and
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon
the Debentures for principal and interest, in respect of which
or for the benefit of which such money has been collected,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according
to the amounts due and payable on such Debentures for
principal and interest, respectively.
Section 7.4. Limitation on Suits. (a) No holder of any Debenture shall
have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to
institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or
with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee,
or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have
given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the
continuance thereof with respect to the Debentures specifying such Event of
Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then Outstanding shall have made
written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in
its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have
offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and (iv) the
Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding;
and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Debentures do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any
other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of the Debentures to
receive payment of the principal of and interest on the Debentures, as therein
provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debenture (or
in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption
date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and
by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and
covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such
taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures
shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the
holders of any other of such Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority
over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and
common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement
of the provisions of this Section 7.4, each and every Debentureholder and the
Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in
equity.
Section 7.5. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not
Waiver. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Article XI, all powers and remedies
given by this Article VII to the Trustee or to the Debentureholders shall, to
the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other
powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures,
by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance
of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise
established with respect to such Debentures.
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(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the
Debentures to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or
shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence
therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, every power and remedy
given by this Article VII or by law to the Trustee or the Debentureholders may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by
the Trustee or by the Debentureholders.
Section 7.6. Control by Debentureholders. The holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding, determined
in accordance with Section 10.4, shall have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided, however,
that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this
Indenture. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, the Trustee shall have the
right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith
shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the
proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the
time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 10.4,
may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive any past default in
the performance of any of the covenants contained herein and its consequences,
except (i) a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on, any of
the Debentures as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such
Debentures otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured
and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal
has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 7.1(c)); (ii) a
default in the covenants contained in Section 5.6; or (iii) in respect of a
covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holder of each Outstanding Debenture affected; provided, however,
that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such
waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders
of a majority in liquidation preference of Trust Securities of the Trust shall
have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver; provided further,
that if the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Debenture is required,
such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of
the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default
covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture
and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored
to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
Section 7.7. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each holder of any Debentures by such holder's acceptance thereof
shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in
any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in
any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee,
the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs
of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by
such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 7.7 shall not apply to
any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any
Debentureholder, or group of Debentureholders holding more than 10% in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures, or to any suit instituted by any
Debentureholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or
interest on the Debentures, on or after the respective due dates expressed in
such Debenture or established pursuant to this Indenture.
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ARTICLE VIII.
FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE
Section 8.1. Form of Debenture. The Debenture and the Trustee's
Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in
the forms contained as Exhibit A to this Indenture, attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.
Section 8.2. Original Issue of Debentures. Debentures in the aggregate
principal amount of $25,773,196 (or $29,639,175 if the underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised) may, upon execution of this Indenture or
following the exercise of underwriters' over- allotment option, be executed by
the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee
shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debentures to or upon the written
order of the Company, signed by its Chairman, its Vice Chairman, its President,
or any Vice President and its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, without any
further action by the Company.
ARTICLE IX.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 9.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee. (a)
The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing
of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with
respect to the Debentures such duties and only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred that has
not been cured or waived, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Indenture, and 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.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and
after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that
may have occurred: (1) the duties and obligations of the
Trustee shall with respect to the Debentures be determined
solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Debentures
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as
are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture
against the Trustee; and (2) in the absence of bad faith on
the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the
Debentures conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by
any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished
to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine
the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Indenture;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or
Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved
that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts;
(iii) the 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 principal amount of the Debentures at the time
Outstanding relating to the time,
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method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect
to the Debentures; and
(iv) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture
shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or
adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured
to it.
Section 9.2. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after actual knowledge
by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of any default
hereunder with respect to the Securities, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to
all holders of the Debentures, as their names and addresses appear in the
Debenture Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been
cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the
payment of the principal or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any
Debenture, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so
long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
the directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee determines in good
faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of
such Debentures; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the
character specified in section 7.1(a)(iii), no such notice to holders of
Debentures need be sent until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For
the purposes of this Section 9.2, the term "default" means any event which is,
or after notice or lapse of time or both, would become, an Event of Default with
respect to the Debentures.
Section 9.3. Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 9.1:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security 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) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman, its President or any Vice
President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof is
specifically prescribed herein);
(c) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of a default or
an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default specified in Section
7.1(a)(i); or (ii), unless and until it receives notification of such Event of
Default from the Company or by holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding;
(d) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such
counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in
good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Debentureholders, pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Debentureholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall,
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however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the
Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, 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;
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(g) The 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, security, or
other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures
(determined as provided in Section 10.4); provided, however, that if the payment
within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities
likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the
opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security
afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition
to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid
by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon
demand; and
(h) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
Section 9.4. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Etc. (a) The
Recitals contained herein and in the Debentures shall be taken as the statements
of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of
the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by
the Company of any of the Debentures or of the proceeds of such Debentures, or
for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance
with any provision of this Indenture, or for the use or application of any
moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section 9.5. May Hold Debentures. The Trustee or any paying agent or
registrar for the Debentures, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if
it were not Trustee, paying agent or Debenture Registrar.
Section 9.6. Moneys Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section
13.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein
provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by
it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 9.7. Compensation and Reimbursement. (a) The Company covenants
and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such
reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in
regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company and
the Trustee
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may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the
execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of
any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Trustee upon
its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or
made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its
counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The
Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents,
directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending
itself against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9.7 to compensate
and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses,
disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder.
Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the
Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such,
except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Debentures.
Section 9.8. Reliance on Officers' Certificate. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 9.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of
this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be
proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any
action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in
the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full
warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by
it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 9.9. Disqualification: Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee
has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section
310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
Section 9.10. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at
all times be a Trustee with respect to the Debentures issued hereunder which
shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as
trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and
subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section 9.10, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be
deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.10, the Trustee
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section
9.11.
Section 9.11. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a)
The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by
giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of
resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Debentureholders, as
their names and addresses
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appear upon the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation,
the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to
Debentures by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board
of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning
Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall
have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the
mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with
respect to Debentures, or any Debentureholder who has been a bona fide holder of
a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions
of Section 9.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition
any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may
thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur (i) the
Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 9.9 after written
request therefor by the Company or by any Debentureholder who has been a bona
fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months; or (ii) the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section
9.10 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or
by any such Debentureholder; or (iii) The Trustee shall become incapable of
acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary
bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of
the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Debentures and appoint a successor trustee by
written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors,
one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and
one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 9.9,
unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed as provided herein, any
Debentureholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for
at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly
situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the
Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon
after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the
Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee with
the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee with respect to the Debentures pursuant to any of the
provisions of this Section 9.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 9.12.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 9.11 may
be appointed with respect to the Debentures, and at any time there shall be only
one Trustee with respect to the Debentures.
Section 9.12. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. (a) In case of
the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Debentures,
every successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to
the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the
successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges,
execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the
rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) Upon request of any successor trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
paragraph (a) of this Section 9.12.
(c) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article IX.
(d) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided
in this Section 9.12, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of
such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after
acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall
cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
Section 9.13. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be
the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be
qualified under the provisions of Section 9.9 and eligible under the provisions
of Section 9.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding. In case any Debentures shall have been authenticated, but not
delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or
consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and
deliver the Debentures so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Debentures.
Section 9.14. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
ARTICLE X.
CONCERNING THE DEBENTUREHOLDERS
Section 10.1. Evidence of Action by Holders. (a) Whenever in this
Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage
in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including
the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver
or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such
action the holders of such majority or specified percentage have joined therein
may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor
executed by such holders of Debentures in Person or by agent or proxy appointed
in writing.
(b) If the Company shall solicit from the Debentureholders any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the
Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Debentureholders entitled to give
such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date
is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only
the Debentureholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall
be deemed to be Debentureholders for the purposes of determining whether
Debentureholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Debentures have
authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the
Outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided,
however, that no such
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authorization, agreement or consent by such Debentureholders on the record date
shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 10.2. Proof of Execution by Debentureholders. Subject to the
provisions of Section 9.1, proof of the execution of any instrument by a
Debentureholder (such proof shall not require notarization) or his agent or
proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Debentures shall be
sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any
instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture
Register of such Debentures or by a certificate of the Debenture Registrar
thereof.
(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter
referred to in this Section 10.2 as it shall deem necessary.
Section 10.3. Who May Be Deemed Owners. Prior to the due presentment
for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any
paying agent, any Authenticating Agent and any Debenture Registrar may deem and
treat the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the books
of the Company as the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such
Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or
writing thereon made by anyone other than the Debenture Registrar) for the
purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and interest
on such Debenture (subject to Section 2.3) and for all other purposes; and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Authenticating
Agent nor any Debenture Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
Section 10.4. Certain Debentures Owned by Company Disregarded. In
determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of
Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this
Indenture, the Debentures that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on
the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled
by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose
of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether
the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or
waiver, only Debentures that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so
disregarded. The Debentures so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be
regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 10.4, if the pledgee
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act
with respect to such Debentures and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to
such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall
be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 10.5. Actions Binding on Future Debentureholders. At any time
prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section
10.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage
in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in
connection with such action, any holder of a Debenture that is shown by the
evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to
such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of
holding as provided in Section 10.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such
Debenture. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any
Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future
holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange
therefor, on registration of
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transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any
notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture. Any action taken by the
holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be
conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the
Debentures.
ARTICLE XI.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 11.1. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of
Debentureholders. In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized
by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any
time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall
conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without
the consent of the Debentureholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein, in the
Debentures;
(b) to comply with Article X;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Debentures in addition to or in place
of certificated Debentures;
(d) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
holders of all or any of the Debentures or to surrender any right or power
herein conferred upon the Company;
(e) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and
restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue,
authentication, and delivery of Debentures, as herein set forth;
(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Debentureholder in any material respect;
(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and
conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications
required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or of the
Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of the Debentures; or
(h) qualify or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company
in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further
appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the
Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture
that affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture
or otherwise. Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 11.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent
of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding
any of the provisions of Section 11.2.
Section 11.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Debentureholders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 10.1) of the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time
Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee
may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or
of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by
Section 11.1 the rights of the holders of the Debentures under this Indenture;
provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent
of the
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holders of each Debenture then Outstanding and affected thereby, (i) extend the
fixed maturity of any Debentures, reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, without the consent
of the holder of each Debenture so affected; or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of principal amount of Debentures, the holders of which are required
to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further, that if the
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such supplemental
indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation
preference of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided further, that if the consent of the holder of
each Outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have
consented to such supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the
consent of the Debentureholders affected thereby under this Section 11.2 to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 11.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XI, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders
of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder
subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 11.4. Debentures Affected by Supplemental Indentures.
Debentures affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered
after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of
this Article XI, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided
such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which the Debentures may
be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Company shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this
Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the
Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the
Debentures then Outstanding.
Section 11.5. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. (a) Upon the
request of the Company, accompanied by their Board Resolutions authorizing the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of Debentureholders required to consent
thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution
of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in
which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter
into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Section 9.1, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article XI is authorized or
permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article XI and that it is
proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article XI to join in the
execution thereof.
(b) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.5, the
Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting
forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Debentureholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein,
shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such
supplemental indenture.
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ARTICLE XII.
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 12.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc. Nothing contained in this
Indenture or in any of the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger
of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations (whether or
not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be), or successive
consolidations or mergers in which the Company, as the case may be, or its
successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company, as the
case may be, or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as
an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the
Company, as the case may be, or its successor or successors) authorized to
acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company hereby covenants
and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment, in the case of the
Company, of the principal of and interest on all of the Debentures, according to
their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the
covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the
Company as the case may be, shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental
indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as
then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to
the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the
Company, as the case may be, shall have been merged, or by the entity which
shall have acquired such property; (ii) in case the Company consolidates with or
merges into another Person or conveys or transfers its properties and assets
substantially then as an entirety to any Person, the successor Person is
organized under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of
Columbia; and (iii) immediately after giving effect thereto, an Event of
Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
Section 12.2. Successor Corporation Substituted. (a) In case of any
such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and
upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture,
executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee,
of, in the case of the Company, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
and interest on all of the Debentures Outstanding and the due and punctual
performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be
performed by the Company, as the case may be, such successor corporation shall
succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had
been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation
shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the
Debentures.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Debentures thereafter to be issued as may be
appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debentures
shall prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or
otherwise all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not
affiliated with the Company).
Section 12.3. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee. The Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the
provisions of this Article XII.
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ARTICLE XIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 13.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. If at any time:
(a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all
Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures that shall have
been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as
provided in Section 2.8) and Debentures for whose payment money or Governmental
Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in
trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from
such trust, as provided in Section 13.5); or (b) all such Debentures not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and
payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are
to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall
deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire
amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations sufficient or a combination
thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Debentures
not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal
and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for
redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be
paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; then this Indenture shall
thereupon cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections
2.3, 2.6, 2.8, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 9.10, that shall survive until the date of
maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 9.6 and 13.5, that
shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the
Company and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture.
Section 13.2. Discharge of Obligations. If at any time all Debentures
not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become
due and payable as described in Section 13.1 shall have been paid by the Company
by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of
Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all
Debentures not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including
principal and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date
fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or
cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then after the
date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited
with the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture shall
cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.6,
2.8, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 9.6, 9.10 and 13.5 hereof that shall survive until such
Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 9.6 and 13.5 shall
survive.
Section 13.3. Deposited Moneys to Be Held in Trust. All monies or
Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 13.1 or
13.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either
directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own
paying agent), to the holders of the Debentures for the payment or redemption of
which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the
Trustee.
Section 13.4. Payment of Monies Held by Paying Agents. In connection
with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys or
Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of
this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and
thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with
respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 13.5. Repayment to Company. Any monies or Governmental
Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the
Company in trust, for payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures that
are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Debentures for at
least two years
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after the date upon which the principal of or interest on such Debentures shall
have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company, as the
case may be, on December 31 of each year or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee
shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or
Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Debentures entitled to
receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE XIV.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
Section 14.1. No Recourse. No recourse under or upon any obligation,
covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of the Debentures, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such,
of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly
or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether
by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of
any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this
Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations,
and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be
incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of
the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them,
because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by
reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Debentures or implied therefrom; and that any and all such
personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity
or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims
against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such,
because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by
reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Debentures or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived
and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of
this Indenture and the issuance of such Debentures.
ARTICLE XV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.1. Effect on Successors and Assigns. All the covenants,
stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on
behalf of the Company shall bind their respective successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.
Section 15.2. Actions by Successor. Any act or proceeding by any
provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by
any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and
performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or
officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor
of the Company.
Section 15.3. Surrender of Company Powers. The Company by instrument in
writing executed by appropriate authority of its Board of Directors and
delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the
Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the
Company, as the case may be, and as to any successor corporation.
Section 15.4. Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein
any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or
permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Debentures
to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class
postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is
filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows:
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Eagle Bancshares, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attn: C. Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xx. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any
Debentureholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 15.5. Governing Law. This Indenture and each Debenture shall be
deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of Georgia and
for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
Section 15.6. Treatment of Debentures as Debt. It is intended that the
Debentures shall be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income
tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further
this intention.
Section 15.7. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. (a) Upon any
application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any
of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this
Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions
precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such
application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is
specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such
particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion of the Company provided for in this
Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the
Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such
Person, he has made such examination or investigation as, in the opinion of such
Person, is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether
or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as
to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has
been complied with.
Section 15.8. Payments on Business Days. In any case where the date of
maturity of interest or principal of any Debenture or the date of redemption of
any Debenture shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal
may (subject to Section 2.4) be made on the next succeeding Business Day with
the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or
redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 15.9. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent
that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act,
such imposed duties shall control.
Section 15.10. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 15.11. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or
of the Debentures, but this Indenture and the Debentures shall be construed as
if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein or therein.
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Section 15.12. Assignment. The Company shall have the right at all
times to assign any of its respective rights or obligations under this Indenture
to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that,
in the event of any such assignment, the Company shall remain liable for all
such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and
inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and
assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
Section 15.13. Acknowledgment of Rights. The Company acknowledges that,
with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, if
the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the
holder of the Debentures held as the assets of the Trust, any holder of
Preferred Securities may institute legal proceedings directly against the
Company to enforce such Property Trustee's rights under this Indenture without
first instituting any legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any
other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of
the Company to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such
interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of Preferred Securities
may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of
the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder
on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.
ARTICLE XVI.
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
Section 16.1. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and
agrees, and each holder of Debentures issued hereunder by such holder's
acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be
issued subject to the provisions of this Article XVI; and each holder of a
Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof,
accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The payment by the Company of
the principal of and interest on all Debentures issued hereunder shall, to the
extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, Subordinated
Debt and Additional Senior Obligations (collectively, "Senior Indebtedness") to
the extent provided herein, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or
thereafter incurred. No provision of this Article XVI shall prevent the
occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.
Section 16.2. Default on Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or Additional
Senior Obligations. In the event and during the continuation of any default by
the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment
due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity
of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a
default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with
respect to the principal (including redemption payments) of or interest on the
Debentures. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall
be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding
sentence of this Section 16.2, such payment shall be held in trust for the
benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees
under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have
been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent
that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of
such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and
only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness.
Section 16.3. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. (a) Upon any
payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors
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upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in
money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on
account of the principal or interest on the Debentures; and upon any such
dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the
Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of the Debentures
or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the
provisions of this Article XVI, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver,
trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such
payment or distribution, or by the holders of the Debentures or by the Trustee
under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the
respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by
the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may
appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in
money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any
payment or distribution is made to the holders of Debentures or to the Trustee.
(b) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or
provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such
payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be
paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their
representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, as calculated
by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay
such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
(c) For purposes of this Article XVI, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XVI with respect
to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as
the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such
Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from
any such reorganization or readjustment; and (ii) the rights of the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered
by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with,
or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property
as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the
terms and conditions provided for in Article XII shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 16.3 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article
XII. Nothing in Section 16.2 or in this Section 16.3 shall apply to claims of,
or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 9.7.
Section 16.4. Subrogation. (a) Subject to the payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the rights of the holders of the Debentures
shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to
receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the
Company, as the
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case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and
interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such
subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of the
Debentures or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this
Article XVI, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XVI
to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by holders of
the Debentures or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors
other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the
Debentures, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such
Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XVI
are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of
the holders of the Debentures, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness on the other hand.
(b) Nothing contained in this Article XVI or elsewhere in this
Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the
Company, its creditors (other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the
Company), and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the
principal of and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become
due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall
affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the
Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company, as the case may be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent
the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies
otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject
to the rights, if any, under this Article XVI of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the
case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
(c) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred
to in this Article XVI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article IX,
and the holders of the Debentures shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon
any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the holders of the Debentures, for the purposes of ascertaining
the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the
amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed
thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XVI.
Section 16.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each holder of
Debentures by such holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the
Trustee on such holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XVI and
appoints the Trustee such holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.
Section 16.6. Notice by the Company. (a) The Company shall give prompt
written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the
Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the
Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article
XVI. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XVI or any other provision
of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the
existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies
to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of
this Article XVI, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall
have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of
Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any
such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1,
shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided,
however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in
this Section 16.6 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the
terms hereof any money may become payable
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for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of
or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such
money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it
within two Business Days prior to such date.
(b) The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, shall be
entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a
Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company
(or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been
given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such
holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that
further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder
of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution
pursuant to this Article XVI, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish
evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such
Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is
entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XVI, and, if such
evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person
pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such
payment.
Section 16.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
(a) The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights
set forth in this Article XVI in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time
held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and
nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such
holder. The Trustee's right to compensation and reimbursement of expenses as set
forth in Section 9.7 shall not be subject to the subordination provisions of the
Article XVI.
(b) With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XVI, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be
deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and,
subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, the Trustee shall not be liable to any
holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to holders of
Debentures, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder
of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XVI or
otherwise.
Section 16.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired. (a) No right of any
present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce
subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or
impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act
or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by
the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture,
regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise
be charged with.
(b) Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing
paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time
and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the
holders of the Debentures, without incurring responsibility to the holders of
the Debentures and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in
this Article XVI or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures
to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following:
(i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment
of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or
supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing
the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding;
(ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness;
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(iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior
Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against
the Company and any other Person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
EAGLE BANCSHARES, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------------------
C. Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Attest: [CORPORATE SEAL]
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx. Secretary
SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, as Trustee
By:
-----------------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------------
[BANK SEAL]
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STATE OF )
--------------------
) ss:
COUNTY OF )
-------------------
On the _______ day of June, 1998, before me personally came
______________________________ to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he is the _________________________ of Company, one of the
corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows
the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to the said
instrument is such corporation seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the
Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by
like authority.
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Notary Public, ,
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[SEAL] My Commission expires:
STATE OF
---------
COUNTY OF
---------
On this _____ day of June 1998, before me appeared
____________________, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn (or
affirmed), did say that he is the _____________________ of SUNTRUST BANK,
ATLANTA and that the seal affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of
said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of
said corporation by authority of its board of directors, and said
_______________________ acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed
of said corporation.
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Notary Public, ,
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[SEAL] My Commission expires:
41
