First Citizens Bancshares Inc S-3ASR, filed Aug 14, 2024
First Citizens Bancshares Inc (FCNCA)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 56-1528994 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 716-7000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Craig L. Nix
Chief Financial Officer
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 716-7000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Matthew G.T. Martin, Esq. Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary First Citizens BancShares, Inc. 4300 Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 (919) 716-7000 |
Gerald F. Roach, Esq. Jason L. Martinez, Esq. Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. Wells Fargo Capitol Center 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2300 Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 (919) 821-1220 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☑
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☑
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
| Large accelerated filer | ☑ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
PROSPECTUS
First Citizens Bancshares, Inc.
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 716-7000
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
The securities of each class identified in this prospectus or any combination thereof may be offered and sold from time to time by us and/or by one or more selling securityholders to be identified in the future. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. We and any one or more selling securityholders may offer securities at the same time or in separate transactions. We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We and/or any one or more selling securityholders may sell the securities through agents; through underwriters or dealers; directly to one or more purchasers; or through a combination of any of these methods of sale on a continuous or delayed basis. We, our agents, and any underwriters or dealers reserve the sole right to accept and to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide to you each time we and/or one or more selling securityholders offer securities, will provide the names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee, commission, or discount arrangements with them.
Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trades under the ticker symbol “FCNCA.” Our depositary shares, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of our 5.375% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol “FCNCP.” Our 5.625% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trades under the symbol “FCNCO.”
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus concerning factors you should consider before investing in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, nor any state securities commission or any other bank regulatory agency has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this prospectus or determined the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities are not savings accounts, deposits, or obligations of any of our bank and non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.
The date of this prospectus is August 14, 2024.
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This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) using an automatic “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we are registering an unspecified amount of each class of the securities described in this prospectus, and we and/or one or more selling securityholders may from time to time offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, denominated in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in foreign currencies, currency units, or composite currencies.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities covered by it. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement containing specific information about the terms of those securities. In addition, if any selling securityholder sells securities under this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will contain specific information about such selling securityholder. A prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus and may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” If the information in this prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. We may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us,” and “BancShares” refer to First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and do not include its consolidated subsidiaries. All references in this prospectus to “First Citizens Bank” refer to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, our wholly owned bank subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, references to our “common stock” include our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.
We include cross-references in this prospectus and will include cross-references in any accompanying prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The table of contents in this prospectus and the table of contents included in any accompanying prospectus supplement provide and will provide, respectively, the pages on which these captions are located.
Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have not taken any action that would permit us to publicly sell these securities in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. If you are an investor outside of the United States, you should inform yourself about and comply with any restrictions as to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus.
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Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. Before you invest in any of our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any subsequent filings, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or that management deems immaterial. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
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First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (“BancShares”) is a financial holding company that primarily conducts operations through its banking subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (“First Citizens Bank”), which is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. BancShares has expanded through de novo branching and acquisitions and as of June 30, 2024, operates a network of more than 500 branches and offices in 30 states, predominantly located in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Western United States, providing a broad range of financial services to individuals, businesses, and professionals. At June 30, 2024, BancShares had total consolidated assets of $219.827 billion.
BancShares was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1986. Our principal executive office is located at 4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609, and our telephone number is (919) 716-7000.
Additional information about us and our subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on pages 9 and 10 of this prospectus.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “targets,” “designed,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “potential,” “continue,” “aims,” or similar words and expressions or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of our management about future events.
Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances, and other factors that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could affect BancShares’ future financial results and performance and could cause actual results, performance, or achievements of BancShares to differ materially from any anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, general competitive, economic, political, geopolitical events (including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East), and market conditions, including changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions and the impacts related to or resulting from recent bank failures, the risks and impacts of future bank failures and other volatility in the banking industry, public perceptions of our business practices, including our deposit pricing and acquisition activity, the financial success or changing conditions or strategies of BancShares’ vendors or customers, including changes in demand for deposits, loans, and other financial services, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the quality or composition of BancShares’ loan or investment portfolio, actions of government regulators, including recent interest rate hikes and any changes by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”), changes to estimates of future costs and benefits of actions taken by BancShares, BancShares’ ability to maintain adequate sources of funding and liquidity, the potential impact of decisions by the FRB on BancShares’ capital plans, adverse developments with respect to U.S. or global economic conditions, including significant turbulence in the capital or financial markets, the impact of any sustained or elevated inflationary environment, the impact of any cyberattack, information or security breach, the impact of implementation and compliance with current or proposed laws, regulations and regulatory interpretations, including potential increased regulatory requirements, limitations, and costs, such as Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation special assessments, increases to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance premiums and the recently proposed interagency rule on regulatory capital, along with the risk that such laws, regulations, and regulatory interpretations may change, the availability of capital and personnel, and the risks associated with BancShares’ previous acquisition transactions, including First Citizen Bank’s acquisition of substantially all loans and certain other assets and assumption of all customer deposits and certain other liabilities of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A. (“SVBB”) on March 27, 2023 and the previously completed transaction with CIT Group Inc., or any future transactions.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
We may use this prospectus to offer securities in one or more offerings. The following description of the various securities that we may offer under this prospectus is not complete and may not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in those securities. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the amounts, prices, and detailed terms of the securities and may describe risks associated with an investment in such securities. We will also include in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to such securities. Terms used in this prospectus will have the meanings described in this prospectus unless otherwise specified. The securities of each class as described in this prospectus may also be offered and sold, from time to time, by one or more selling securityholders to be identified in the future.
We and/or any one or more selling securityholders may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers, or agents or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf and any underwriters or dealers, reserve the sole right to accept or to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents involved in the sale of our securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission, or discount arrangements with them.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Debt Securities
We may issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, the “senior indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture, the “subordinated indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “indentures.” The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
Common Stock
We may sell shares of our common stock, $1.00 par value per share. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the aggregate number of shares offered and the offering price or prices of the shares.
We have two classes of common stock. Shares of Class A common stock have one vote per share, while shares of Class B common have 16 votes per share. Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FCNCA.” The Class B common stock is traded on the over-the-counter market and quoted on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol “FCNCB.” Except as provided from time to time in our certificate of incorporation with respect to another class of our shares, or in a certificate of designation relating to a series of our preferred stock, or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock have the exclusive right to vote for the election of our directors and for all other purposes. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy have the power to decide any question brought before such meeting, except as otherwise provided by our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to us, applicable law, or pursuant to any regulation applicable to us or our securities. Our directors are elected by written ballot at the annual meeting of the stockholders and those persons who receive the highest number of votes are deemed to have been elected. In the election of our directors, cumulative voting is not available to stockholders.
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Except as may be provided from time to time in a certificate of designation relating to a series of our preferred stock, or by applicable law, dividends, spin-offs, distributions-in-kind, and all other like and similar benefits and transactions are paid or distributed on the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock as and when declared from time to time by our board of directors from funds legally available; provided, however, that dividends, spin-offs, distributions-in-kind, and all other like and similar benefits and transactions must be the same for each issued and outstanding share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of the record date.
As to the distribution of our assets in the event of liquidation, any amounts available, after the satisfaction of all corporate liabilities and subject to the rights of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, must be distributed between the outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock pro rata, based upon the numbers of shares issued and outstanding of Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares
We may sell shares of our preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, in one or more series. We also may issue preferred stock that will be represented by depositary shares. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation, and dissolution, the stated value of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and, if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.
Warrants
We may sell warrants to purchase our debt securities, shares of our common stock, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, or units. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the warrants, including whether our or your obligations, if any, under any warrants may be satisfied by delivering or purchasing the underlying securities or their cash value.
Purchase Contracts
We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities, for the purchase or sale of our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock or other securities identified in the prospectus supplement. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the terms of the purchase contracts or units, including, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements.
Units
We may sell any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus, together as units. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of securities constituting any units and any other specific terms of the units.
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Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include, without limitation, providing capital to support our growth organically or through strategic acquisitions, financing investments and capital expenditures, for investments in First Citizens Bank as regulatory capital, redeeming or repurchasing our securities, repaying, reducing, or refinancing indebtedness, and any other purposes that we may specify in any prospectus supplement. We may invest the net proceeds temporarily until we use them for their stated purpose. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable return.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our securities by selling securityholders.
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The validity of the securities offered hereby is being passed upon for us by Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P, Raleigh, North Carolina. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers, or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. As of the date of this prospectus, certain current individual attorneys with Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. beneficially own an aggregate of 200 shares of our Class A common stock. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of BancShares as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024, the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting of BancShares incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and the Statement of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed by First Citizens Bank, pursuant to that certain Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated March 27, 2023, by and among First Citizens Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as receiver of SVBB, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, included in Amendment No. 2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 26, 2024, have been included herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
In addition, we maintain an Internet website, www.firstcitizens.com. We make available, through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. This reference to our website is for the convenience of investors as required by the SEC and shall not be deemed to incorporate any information on the website into this prospectus. All website addresses in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references only.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, those contained in this prospectus or in any of the materials that we have incorporated into this prospectus. If anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until the termination of the offering:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, including the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024, incorporated by reference therein; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2024 and August 8, 2024, respectively; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 16, 2024 (solely with respect to Item 5.02), as amended on January 16, 2024, January 26, 2024, May 6, 2024, July 25, 2024 (solely with respect to Item 8.01), and August 14, 2024; and |
| • | the description of our common stock included in our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on July 13, 1990 (filed in paper format), as updated by Exhibit 4.8 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and any amendments or reports filed since that date updating that description. |
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable reports, information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference.
You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document through us, or from the SEC through the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We will provide, upon written or oral request as described below, each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in those documents. That information is available from us without charge. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 716-7000
Attn: Corporate Secretary
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The estimated expenses in connection with this registration statement are as follows:
| SEC Registration Statement filing fee |
(1) | |||
| Accountant’s fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Trustee and Depositary fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses |
(2) | |||
| Miscellaneous |
(2) | |||
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| TOTAL |
(2) |
| (1) | The Registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this registration statement and, in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee until the time the securities are sold under this registration statement pursuant to a prospectus supplement. |
| (2) | The calculation of these fees and expenses is dependent upon the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under Title 8, Section 102(b)(7) (“Section 102(b)(7)”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), a corporation may eliminate or limit the personal liability of its directors or officers to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except where (i) a director or officer breached his or her duty of loyalty, (ii) a director or officer failed to act or not act in good faith or engaged in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) a director is responsible for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions, or other distributions, or (iv) a director or officer engaged in a transaction from which he or she derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL does not permit a corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of an officer in any action by or in the right of the corporation. Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), provides that, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, no director or officer will be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, as applicable.
Under Title 8, Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”), a corporation has the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a “Proceeding”), other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the Proceeding, provided that the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 145 further provides that, in the case of threatened, pending, or completed Proceedings by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in the corporation’s favor, the corporation has the power to indemnify a person described above against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of the Proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner
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the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. However, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses which the court deems proper.
To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, subsection (c) of Section 145 further provides that he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, will continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and will inure to the benefit of the person’s heirs, executors, and administrators.
Unless ordered by a court or required pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 145, any indemnification under Section 145 shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct. That determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the corporation, at the time of such determination: (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the Proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (4) by the corporation’s stockholders.
Section 145 provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any Proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. Under Section 145, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees, and agents, or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees, or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, may be paid upon terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
Indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted under Section 145 are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in a person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
References in Section 145 to “the corporation” include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents. As a result, any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of such a constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, will stand in the same position under Section 145 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as that person would have with respect to the constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
The Amended and Restated Certificate provides that the Registrant shall, to the full extent permitted by Section 145, indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify pursuant thereto. The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provide that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is
II-2
otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Registrant or, while a director, officer, or employee of the Registrant, is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, including ERISA excise taxes, or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person. Such indemnification will continue as to any such person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences and except with respect to expenses for prosecution of claims that are successful, in whole or in part, against the Registrant for failure to timely pay claims for indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Bylaws, the Bylaws provide that the Registrant will be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized in the specific case by the board of directors of the Registrant.
The Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any of the foregoing persons in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, any such advance payment of expenses shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified.
The Bylaws do not limit the right of the Registrant, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and advance expenses to other persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action. Further, the rights conferred on any person under the Bylaws are not exclusive of any other rights the person may have or acquire under any statute, provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate or Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Under the Bylaws, the Registrant’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount the person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or non-profit enterprise.
Under Section 145, a person’s right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate or Bylaws shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of the act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after the action or omission has occurred. The Amended and Restated Certificate and Bylaws do not authorize such elimination or impairment.
A corporation has the power under Section 145 to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was its director, officer, employee, or agent, or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Section 145. The Registrant has purchased a policy of liability insurance that covers its directors and officers up to the limits prescribed therein.
The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of Delaware law, the Amended and Restated Certificate, and the Bylaws that deal with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of Section 102(b)(7) and Section 145 of the DGCL, the Amended and Restated Certificate, and the Bylaws.
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Item 16. Exhibits
The exhibits filed (unless otherwise noted) as a part of this registration statement are as follows:
II-4
| * | To be filed, if necessary, subsequent to the effectiveness of this registration statement by an amendment to this registration statement or incorporated by reference in connection with an offering of securities to a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
| ** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (17 C.F.R. § 230.424(b)) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
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Provided, however, that:
(A) Paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) (17 C.F.R. § 230.424(b)) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (17 C.F.R. § 230.424(b)(3)) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) (17 C.F.R. § 230.424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7)) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) (17 C.F.R. § 230.415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x)) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (17 C.F.R. § 230.424);
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Raleigh, State of North Carolina, on August 14, 2024.
| FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Frank B. Holding, Jr. | |
| Frank B. Holding, Jr. | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| (Principal executive officer) | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Craig L. Nix and Matthew G.T. Martin, for himself or herself and not for one another, and each and either of them and his substitutes, a true and lawful attorney in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign his or her name to any and all amendments to this registration statement, including post-effective amendments, and to cause the same to be filed with the SEC, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power of substitution and full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and each of the undersigned for himself or herself hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE: |
TITLE: |
DATE: | ||
| /s/ Frank B. Holding, Jr. Frank B. Holding, Jr. |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Director (Principal executive officer) |
August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Craig L. Nix Craig L. Nix |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal financial and principal accounting officer) |
August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Ellen R. Alemany Ellen R. Alemany |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ John M. Alexander, Jr. John M. Alexander, Jr. |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Victor E. Bell III Victor E. Bell III |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Peter M. Bristow Peter M. Bristow |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Hope H. Bryant Hope H. Bryant |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| SIGNATURE: |
TITLE: |
DATE: | ||
| /s/ Michael A. Carpenter Michael A. Carpenter |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ H. Lee Durham, Jr. H. Lee Durham, Jr. |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr. Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr. |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Robert R. Hoppe Robert R. Hoppe |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ David G. Leitch David G. Leitch |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Robert E. Mason IV Robert E. Mason IV |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Robert T. Newcomb Robert T. Newcomb |
Director | August 14, 2024 | ||
Exhibit 4.6
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
Issuer
And
[TRUSTEE]
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of , 20
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO
SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |||
| §310(a)(1) |
609 | |||
| (a)(2) |
609 | |||
| (a)(3) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (a)(4) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (a)(5) |
609 | |||
| (b) |
608; 610 | |||
| §311(a) |
613 | |||
| (b) |
613 | |||
| §312(a) |
701; 702 | |||
| (b) |
702 | |||
| (c) |
702 | |||
| §313(a) |
703 | |||
| (b) |
703 | |||
| (c) |
703 | |||
| (d) |
703 | |||
| §314(a) |
704 | |||
| (a)(1) |
704 | |||
| (a)(2) |
704 | |||
| (a)(3) |
704 | |||
| (a)(4) |
1004 | |||
| (b) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (c)(1) |
102 | |||
| (c)(2) |
102 | |||
| (c)(3) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (d) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (e) |
102 | |||
| (f) |
Not Applicable | |||
| §315(a) |
601, 603 | |||
| (b) |
602 | |||
| (c) |
601 | |||
| (d) |
601 | |||
| (e) |
514 | |||
| §316(a) |
101 | |||
| (a)(1)(A) |
502; 512 | |||
| (a)(1)(B) |
513 | |||
| (a)(2) |
Not Applicable | |||
| (b) |
508 | |||
| (c) |
104 | |||
| §317(a)(1) |
503 | |||
| (a)(2) |
504 | |||
| (b) |
1003 | |||
| §318(a) |
107 | |||
NOTE: This table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION |
1 | |||
| Section 101. Definitions |
1 | |||
| Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions |
6 | |||
| Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee |
6 | |||
| Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates |
7 | |||
| Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company |
8 | |||
| Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver |
8 | |||
| Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act |
9 | |||
| Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents |
9 | |||
| Section 109. Successors and Assigns |
9 | |||
| Section 110. Separability Clause |
9 | |||
| Section 111. Benefits of Indenture |
9 | |||
| Section 112. Governing Law |
9 | |||
| Section 113. Legal Holidays |
9 | |||
| Section 114. Language of Notices, Etc. |
10 | |||
| Section 115. Interest Limitation |
10 | |||
| Section 116. No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees or Shareholders |
10 | |||
| Section 117. Applicability of Depositary |
10 | |||
| Section 118. Duplicate Originals; Electronic Delivery |
11 | |||
| ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS |
11 | |||
| Section 201. Forms Generally |
11 | |||
| Section 202. Form of Face of Security |
11 | |||
| Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security |
13 | |||
| Section 204. Global Securities |
16 | |||
| Section 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization |
17 | |||
| ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES |
17 | |||
| Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
17 | |||
| Section 302. Denominations |
20 | |||
| Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating |
20 | |||
| Section 304. Temporary Securities |
21 | |||
| Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange |
22 | |||
| Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities |
23 | |||
| Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved |
24 | |||
| Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners |
24 | |||
| Section 309. Cancellation |
25 | |||
| Section 310. Computation of Interest |
25 | |||
| Section 311. CUSIP Numbers |
25 | |||
| ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
25 | |||
| Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
25 | |||
| Section 402. Application of Trust Money |
26 | |||
| ARTICLE V DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
26 | |||
| Section 501. Events of Default |
26 | |||
| Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment |
27 | |||
| Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
28 | |||
| Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
28 | |||
| Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
29 | |||
| Section 506. Application of Money Collected |
29 | |||
| Section 507. Limitation on Suits |
29 | |||
| Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest |
30 | |||
| Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
30 | |||
i
| Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
30 | |||
| Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
30 | |||
| Section 512. Control by Holders |
30 | |||
| Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults |
31 | |||
| Section 514. Undertaking for Costs |
31 | |||
| ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE |
31 | |||
| Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
31 | |||
| Section 602. Notice of Defaults |
32 | |||
| Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee |
32 | |||
| Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
33 | |||
| Section 605. May Hold Securities |
33 | |||
| Section 606. Money Held in Trust |
34 | |||
| Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement |
34 | |||
| Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests |
35 | |||
| Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility |
35 | |||
| Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
35 | |||
| Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
36 | |||
| Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
37 | |||
| Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
37 | |||
| Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
37 | |||
| ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY |
38 | |||
| Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders |
38 | |||
| Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders |
39 | |||
| Section 703. Reports by Trustee |
39 | |||
| Section 704. Reports by Company |
39 | |||
| ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE |
39 | |||
| Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms |
39 | |||
| Section 802. Successor Substituted |
40 | |||
| ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
40 | |||
| Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders |
40 | |||
| Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders |
41 | |||
| Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures |
42 | |||
| Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
42 | |||
| Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act |
42 | |||
| Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures |
42 | |||
| ARTICLE X COVENANTS |
42 | |||
| Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest |
42 | |||
| Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency |
42 | |||
| Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust |
43 | |||
| Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default; Change in Fiscal Year |
44 | |||
| Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants |
44 | |||
| ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
44 | |||
| Section 1101. Applicability of Article |
44 | |||
| Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee |
44 | |||
| Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed |
44 | |||
| Section 1104. Notice of Redemption |
45 | |||
| Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price |
46 | |||
| Section 1106. Effect of Notice of Redemption |
46 | |||
| Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part |
46 | |||
| ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS |
46 | |||
| Section 1201. Applicability of Article |
46 | |||
| Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
47 | |||
| Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund |
47 | |||
ii
| ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE |
47 | |||
| Section 1301. Applicability of Article |
47 | |||
| Section 1302. Legal Defeasance |
47 | |||
| Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance |
49 | |||
| Section 1304. Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities |
50 | |||
| Section 1305. Repayment to Company |
50 | |||
| Section 1306. Reinstatement |
50 | |||
iii
INDENTURE dated as of , 20 , between FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, and [TRUSTEE], a (the “Trustee”), having a corporate trust office at .
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (to the extent authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
| (1) | the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; |
| (2) | all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly, or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; |
| (3) | all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP; |
| (4) | the word “including” means “including without limitation”; |
| (5) | the words “hereby,” “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; and |
| (6) | the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture. |
“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
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“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.
“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors or the protection of creditors.
“Board of Directors” or “Board” means:
| (1) | with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; |
| (2) | with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; |
| (3) | with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and |
| (4) | with respect to any other Person (including a business trust), the board of trustees or committee of such Person serving a similar function. |
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company or any other authorized officer of the Company or a Person duly authorized by any of them, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution.
“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then any body performing such duties at such time.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer or the Controller of the Company, and by any one of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee located at , or at such other address as the Trustee shall have notified to the Company and the Holders.
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“Corporation” means a corporation, association, partnership (general or limited), limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.
“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Debt” means any debt for money borrowed.
“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.
“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.
“Definitive Security” means a Security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.
“Dollar” or “$” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“DTC” has the meaning specified in Section 104.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any statute successor thereto.
“Fiscal Year” means, with respect to the Company, each 12-month period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31, or the 12-month period most recently notified by the Company to the Trustee pursuant to Section 1004.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, consistently applied, as from time to time in effect.
“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is registered in the name of the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance herewith, including by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
“interest” means, with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.
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“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officers’ Certificate” of a Person means a certificate signed by any two of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Controller, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Person, or if such Person is a partnership, of its general partner, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers or such other Persons (as applicable) signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Person, or if such Person is a partnership, of its general partner.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, which opinion shall comply with the provisions of Sections 102 and 103.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
| (1) | Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; |
| (2) | Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided, however, that if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor has been made; |
| (3) | Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and |
| (4) | Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, with respect to which the Company has effected Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article XIII; |
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than Dollars shall be the Dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in clause (C) above which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee certifies to the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
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“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.
“Person” means any individual, Corporation, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 301, the office specified as such in Section 1002 and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed, determined for such Security pursuant to this Indenture, as contemplated by Section 301 and/or by the terms of such Security.
“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.
“Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to the principal of any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, and does not include any contingent obligation to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof; or any partnership of which more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or combination thereof.
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“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force on the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as otherwise provided in Section 905; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture, until a successor Trustee shall have replaced it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean each Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States 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, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, each of which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by officers of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.
Every Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:
| (1) | a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto; |
| (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 each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her 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, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with. |
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents. Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
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Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of or counsel for the Company may be delivered electronically.
Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or instrument, a clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or unintentional error or omission shall be discovered therein, a new document or instrument may be substituted therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if originally received in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of the actual execution and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date or dates required with respect to the document or instrument for which it is substituted. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Securities issued under the authority of such defective document or instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Outstanding Securities.
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security. With respect to any Global Security the Depositary for which is The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), any consent or other action given, made or taken by an “agent member” of DTC by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other applicable procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC shall be deemed to constitute the “Act” of the Holder of such Global Security, and such Act shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee upon the delivery by DTC of an “agent’s message” or other notice of such consent or other action having been so given, made or taken in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such Person the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than the signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
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The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.
The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with
| (1) | the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made in writing and actually received by the Trustee at its office at , or at any other address previously furnished in writing by the Trustee for these purposes, or |
| (2) | the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company, addressed to it at 4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company for these purposes. |
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (if international mail, by air mail), to each Holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
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In case of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Where this Indenture provides for notice or other communication with respect to any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice or other communication shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to its applicable procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice or other communication.
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 109. Successors and Assigns
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture and the Securities by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture and the Securities by the Trustee shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 110. Separability Clause
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 112. Governing Law
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the state of New York without reference to its principles of conflict of laws (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).
Section 113. Legal Holidays
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
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Section 114. Language of Notices, Etc.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
Section 115. Interest Limitation
It is the intention of the Company to conform strictly to all applicable usury laws and any subsequent revisions, repeals or judicial interpretations thereof. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under any applicable law then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Securities or this Indenture, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under applicable law with respect to a Security shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if the principal amount of such Security shall have been paid in full, refunded to the Company), to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (ii) in the event that the maturity of any Security is accelerated or in the event of any redemption of such Security, then such consideration that constitutes interest under applicable law may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if the principal amount of such Security shall be paid in full, refunded to the Company), to the extent permitted by applicable law. All calculations made to compute the rate of interest with respect to a Security for the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the maximum amount allowed by applicable law shall be made, to the extent permitted by such applicable law, by allocating and spreading during the period of the full stated term of such Security all interest any time contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Holder or by the Trustee on behalf of any such Holder in connection therewith so that the amount or rate of interest charged for any and all periods of time during the term of the Security does not exceed the maximum amount or rate of interest allowed to be charged by law during the relevant period of time. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if at any time applicable laws shall be changed so as to permit a higher rate or amount of interest to be charged than that permitted prior to such change, then unless prohibited by law, references in this Indenture or any Security to “applicable law” when used in the context of determining the maximum interest or rate of interest that can be charged shall be deemed to refer to such applicable law as so amended to allow the greater amount or rate of interest.
The right to accelerate maturity of any Security does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued to the date of such acceleration, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the continuing accrual after acceleration of interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Security.
Section 116. No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees or Shareholders
Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities hereunder are payable only out of cash flow and assets of the Company. The Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, will be deemed to have agreed in this Indenture that no director, officer, employee, or shareholder, as such, of the Company, the Trustee, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing entities shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture or such Securities by reason of his, her or its status. The agreements set forth in this Section are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
Section 117. Applicability of Depositary
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, so long as a series of Securities is a Global Security, the parties hereto will be bound at all times by the applicable procedures of the Depositary with respect to such series, and the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge, at any time, of the identity of the beneficial owners of the Securities unless it shall have been provided with a list of the beneficial owners by the Depositary as of such time.
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Section 118. Duplicate Originals; Electronic Delivery
The parties may execute any number of counterparts of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto. Each executed copy hereof or thereof shall be an original, but all of such copies together shall represent one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies hereof or thereof and of signature pages hereto or thereto by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., .pdf or .tif) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery as to the respective parties hereto or thereto, and may be used in lieu of the original such document for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto or thereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., .pdf or .tif) shall be deemed to be original signatures for all purposes.
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded or of any Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized Person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form by the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form.
The Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
Section 202. Form of Face of Security
The form of the Securities shall be as follows:
[Insert any legend required by the United States Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]
[If a Global Security, insert legend required by Section 204 of the Indenture]
[If applicable, insert—UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
[TITLE OF SECURITY]
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| No. | $ |
[CUSIP No.]
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [ ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] United States Dollars [state other currency] on [ ] [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from [ ], or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on [ ] and [ ] in each year, commencing [ ], at the rate of [ ] % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of [ ] % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. [If applicable, insert—The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will 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) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.] The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the [ ] or [ ] (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in such Indenture].
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of [ ]% per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to but excluding the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of [ ]% per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to but excluding the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]
[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert-any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in [ ] designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [state other currency].]
[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [ ], [in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of [ ] in [ ] and [ ] in [ ], or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in [ ] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least [ ] days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other
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currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in [ ] [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the Regular Record Date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| Dated: _________________ | ||||||
| FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC. | ||||||
| By: |
| |||||
| Name: | ||||||
| Title: | ||||||
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security
The form of the reverse side of the Securities shall be as follows:
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of , 20 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and [TRUSTEE], as Trustee (together with any successor trustee under the Indenture, the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert—, limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S. $ [ ]].
[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, [if applicable, insert—(1) on in any year commencing with the year [ ] and ending with the year [ ] through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after [ ]], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert—on or before [ ], [ ]%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning [ ] of the years indicated,
| Year |
Redemption Price for Redemption Through Operation of the Sinking Fund |
Redemption Price for Redemption Otherwise Than Through Operation of the Sinking Fund |
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and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to [ ]% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with interest accrued to but excluding the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, (1) on [ ] in any year commencing with the year [ ] and ending with the year [ ] through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after [ ]], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,
| Year |
Redemption Price for Redemption Through Operation of the Sinking Fund |
Redemption Price for Redemption Otherwise Than Through Operation of the Sinking Fund |
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to [ ] % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with interest accrued to but excluding the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on [ ] in each year beginning with the year [ ] and ending with the year [ ] of [if applicable,—not less than $[ ] (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $[ ] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable,—mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable,—mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable,—in the inverse order in which they become due].]
[If the Security is subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to—insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (1) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable, and (2) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest, all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of not less than the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting
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as one class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such series and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee, the Trustee shall have been offered by such Holders, and, if requested, provided security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred in compliance with such request, the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer, and, if requested, provision of security or indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or [any premium or] interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder, alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and [any premium and] interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, except for Section 115 of the Indenture (which limits interest to the maximum amount permissible by law), the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.
The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]
[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert—any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert—[ ] [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of [ ] in [ ] and in [ ] or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $ [state other currency] and any integral multiple in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
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Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Securities thereunder, including this Security, are payable only out of cash flow and assets of the Company. The Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance hereof, will be deemed to have agreed in the Indenture that no director, officer, employee, or shareholder, as such, of the Company, the Trustee, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing entities shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture or such Securities by reason of his, her or its status.
The Indenture contains provisions that relieve the Company from the obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants in the Indenture and for satisfaction and discharge at any time of the entire indebtedness upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page—
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto [ ] (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee) the within instrument of FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC., and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint [ ] Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Please Insert Social Security or
Other Identifying Number of Assignee:
| Dated: |
(Signature) | |||||||
| Signature Guarantee: | ||||||||
(Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guaranty Medallion Program)
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]
Section 204. Global Securities
Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
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If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding Section 301(9) and Section 302, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Sections 303, 304 and 305, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby.
Section 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization
The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| [TRUSTEE] As Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution (and, subject to Section 303, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate or Company Order setting forth, or determining the manner of, such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
| (1) | the form and title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series); |
| (2) | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); |
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| (3) | the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest; |
| (4) | the date or dates on which the Securities will be issued and on which the principal of, and premium, if any, on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof; |
| (5) | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determination thereof, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date; |
| (6) | the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices, and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served; |
| (7) | the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise, if the Company is to have that option; |
| (8) | the obligation, if any, and the option, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| (9) | if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof, the minimum denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable; |
| (10) | whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series; |
| (11) | the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be denominated, payable, redeemable or purchasable if other than Dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101; |
| (12) | if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index (including an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the Securities of that series are payable), the index, any replacement indices, the manner in which such indices shall be selected and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; |
| (13) | if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made; |
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| (14) | the right, if any, of the Company to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment periods and specify the duration of such extension, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and whether and under what circumstances additional interest on amounts deferred shall be payable; |
| (15) | if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504 or the method of determination thereof; |
| (16) | if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities (and whether in temporary or permanent global form) and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered; |
| (17) | any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 501 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article X pertaining to the Securities of the series; |
| (18) | if and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be converted into or exchanged for securities, which may include capital stock, of any class or series of the Company or any other issuer; |
| (19) | if other than as provided in Article IV and Sections 1302 and 1303, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such series of Securities may be defeased or discharged; |
| (20) | if other than the Trustee, the identity of any other trustee, the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent; |
| (21) | if other than as provided in Section 305, any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of the Securities; and |
| (22) | any other terms of the Securities of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(3)). |
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
Any such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before the initial issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Indenture for all purposes relating to Securities of such series as fully as if such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate were set forth herein in full.
All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized Person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or Company Order setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.
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With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order, or that such terms shall be determined by the Company, or one or more of the Company’s agents designated in an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.
Section 302. Denominations
The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, an Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Controller, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agents, thereafter promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
| (1) | if the form (or the manner of determining the form) of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; |
| (2) | if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; |
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| (3) | that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity, and will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding; and |
| (4) | such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; |
or, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has the power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).
Notwithstanding that such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities, under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise, in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 102, 301 and the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate, Company Order, Opinion of Counsel or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant thereto at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series, so long as such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
With respect to Securities of a series not to be originally issued all at one time, the Trustee may rely upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series and any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon their original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate shall be true and correct as if made on such date.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 for all purposes of this Indenture, such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 304. Temporary Securities
Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon receipt of the documents required by Sections 102, 201, 301 and 303, as applicable, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities of like series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
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If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of exchanges of Securities of such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series and tenor.
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial security registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided (the registrar responsible for so registering Securities and transfers thereof being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Registrar”). The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency. At all reasonable times the Security Register shall be available for inspection by the Trustee.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of sending a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (3) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security between a Regular Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
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Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee thereof, and no such transfer may be registered, except as provided in this paragraph. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security, except as provided in this paragraph. If (1) (A) the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (B) a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of such series and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue certificated securities in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Securities of such series (in which case the Company shall deliver certificated securities within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Company determines in its sole discretion that Securities of a series issued in global form shall no longer be represented by a Global Security, then such Global Security may be exchanged by such Depositary for Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security or portion thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. If, after the delivery of such new Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to whom it was delivered or any party taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company and the Trustee in connection therewith.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security (and, for clarity, Article XI shall not apply to such payment).
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, 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. Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
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Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
| (1) | The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (if international mail, by air mail), to each Holder of Securities of such series at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). |
| (2) | The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Securities may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. |
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security, shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
For each series of Securities, the Company shall, prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (or such later time of day to which the Trustee may agree) on each payment date for principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, deposit with the Trustee money in immediately available funds sufficient to make cash payments due on the applicable payment date.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 309. Cancellation
In order for any Securities to be surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment such Security must be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures, and the Trustee shall thereafter, from time to time upon written request, deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition.
Section 310. Computation of Interest
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the number of days elapsed in any partial month.
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers
The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (in addition to the other identification numbers printed on the Securities), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such CUSIP numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
This Indenture shall be discharged and cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company and upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities shall have been complied with, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when
| (1) | either |
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| (A) | all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) such Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
| (B) | all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation |
| (i) | have become due and payable, |
| (ii) | will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or |
| (iii) | are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, |
and, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for this purpose an amount of money in the currency or currency units in which such Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; and
| (2) | the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities. |
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, (i) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 610 shall survive, and (ii) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (1)(B) above, the obligations of the Company and/or the Trustee under Sections 402, 606, 701 and 1002 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
Section 402. Application of Trust Money
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
ARTICLE V
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default
“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
| (1) | default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or |
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| (2) | default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or |
| (3) | default in the performance, or breach, of any term, covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a term, covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a notice of Default hereunder; or |
| (4) | the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of any order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or |
| (5) | a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days; or |
| (6) | any other Event of Default provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of that series. |
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.
At any time after such declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
| (1) | the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay |
| (A) | all overdue interest on all Securities of that series, |
| (B) | the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, |
| (C) | to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and |
| (D) | all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and |
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| (2) | all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513. |
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
The Company covenants that if
| (1) | default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or |
| (2) | default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, |
then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 607.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any Custodian, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.
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Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such 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 the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607, be for the ratable benefit of Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 506. Application of Money Collected
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
SECOND: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities 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 Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company.
Section 507. Limitation on Suits
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or a Security, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
| (1) | such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series; |
| (2) | Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; |
| (3) | such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred in compliance with such request; |
| (4) | the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer and, if requested, provision of such security or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
| (5) | no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; |
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
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Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 512. Control by Holders
Subject to the provisions of Sections 507 and 603, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series 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, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that
| (1) | such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture; |
| (2) | the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and |
| (3) | subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law. |
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Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except
| (1) | a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or |
| (2) | a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. |
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs
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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee or the Company, in any suit instituted by any Holder (or group of Holders) holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or in any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturity expressed by such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date).
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities:
| (1) | the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and |
| (2) | in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which 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 on their face to the requirements of this Indenture. |
| (b) | In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. |
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(c) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
| (1) | this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of clause (a) above; |
| (2) | the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; |
| (3) | 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 or a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, 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 Securities of such series; and |
| (4) | no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers. |
| (d) | Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. |
Section 602. Notice of Defaults
Subject to the following paragraph, if a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after it occurs, transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of all uncured or unwaived Defaults known to it; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in payment on the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee determine in good faith that withholding such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, further, however, that, in the case of any Default specified in Section 501(3) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default, except a Default under Sections 501(1) or 501(2) herein, unless the Trustee shall have received from the Company or from any Holder written notice thereof at its Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities in this Indenture. In the absence of any such notice, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Default exists.
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee
Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
| (1) | the Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; |
| (2) | any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (or in the case of a Periodic Offering, as agreed in procedures set forth in a Company Order pursuant to Section 303) and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution; |
| (3) | whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate; |
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| (4) | 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, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; |
| (5) | the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; |
| (6) | 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, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, without obligation to do so, make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation; |
| (7) | 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; |
| (8) | the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; |
| (9) | the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and |
| (10) | in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. |
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 605. May Hold Securities
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
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Section 606. Money Held in Trust
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder 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 money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement
The Company agrees:
| (1) | to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); |
| (2) | to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence or bad faith; and |
| (3) | to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder (and the reasonable fees and disbursements of its agents, attorneys, accountants and experts and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee)). The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Section, except to the extent the Company has been prejudiced thereby. Upon the election of the Company, the Company will have the right to assume the defense of the claim, and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel at its own expense, but if the Trustee has been reasonably advised by counsel that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest or may be one or more legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Company and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for the Trustee to engage separate counsel, then the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company have the right, without the Trustee’s consent, to settle any such claim if such settlement (i) arises from or is part of any criminal action, suit or proceeding, (ii) contains a stipulation to, confession of judgment with respect to, or admission or acknowledgement of, any liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Trustee, (iii) provides for injunctive relief, or other relief other than monetary damages, or (iv) does not contain an unconditional release of the Trustee from all liability on all claims that are the subject matter of the related dispute or proceeding. |
The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder.
The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by it as such for any amount owing to it pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders.
Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4) or Section 501(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.
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The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Securities and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility
There shall at all times be one or more Trustees hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, at least one of which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of a supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.
The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving 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 the Securities of such series.
The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the removed Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If at any time:
| (1) | the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or |
| (2) | the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or |
| (3) | the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed 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, |
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then, in any such case, (A) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such 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, and all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges and subject to any claim provided for in Section 607, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties 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.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees as co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee
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with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, but, on request of the Company, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges and subject to any claim provided for in Section 607, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon the reasonable request of any such 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 clause (a) or (b) above.
(d) 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.
Section 612. 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 all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee shall adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, or any other obligor upon the Securities, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any such other obligor.
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent
The Trustee (upon notice to the Company) may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue (in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Trustee) and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities 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. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a Corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of such Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent.
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An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be 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, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation (for which the Company shall not be responsible) for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| [TRUSTEE] | ||||||||
| As Trustee | ||||||||
| Date: | By: | |||||||
| As Authenticating Agent | ||||||||
| By: | ||||||||
| Authorized Signatory | ||||||||
ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
| (1) | semi-annually, not later than each Interest Payment Date, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding Regular Record Date, and |
| (2) | 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 if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for Securities of a series, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.
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Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders
The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.
The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 703. Reports by Trustee
As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of May 15 that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a). The Trustee shall also comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b). Prior to delivery to the Holders, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 703; provided, however, that no recourse may be taken against the Trustee for its failure to deliver a copy of such report to the Company prior to its delivery of the report to the Holders.
A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Section 704. Reports by Company
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a) and the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a) and such rules and regulations.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms
The Company shall not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its and its Subsidiaries’ properties and assets, taken as a whole, to any other Person, unless:
| (1) | the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, conveyance or transfer or other disposition, or which leases, all or substantially all of such properties and assets shall be a Corporation, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto or other instrument, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every other covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; |
| (2) | immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; |
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| (3) | if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, such properties or assets would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby and such encumbrances shall be deemed to be permitted by this Indenture; and |
| (4) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with. |
For clarity, this Section and Section 802 shall not apply to the merger of any Person into the Company, provided that the Company is the surviving entity of such merger.
Section 802. Successor Substituted
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may liquidate and dissolve.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders
Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
| (1) | to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and the assumption by such successor Person of the obligations of the Company hereunder; |
| (2) | to add covenants and Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of such Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred by this Indenture upon the Company or to make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect; |
| (3) | to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only after there are no such Securities of any series entitled to the benefit of such provision Outstanding; |
| (4) | to establish the forms or terms of the Securities of any series issued hereunder; |
| (5) | to cure any ambiguity or omission or to correct any defect or inconsistency in this Indenture, or to conform the text of this Indenture or the Securities to the description of the Securities in the prospectus or prospectus supplement relating thereto; |
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| (6) | to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities or otherwise; |
| (7) | to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
| (8) | to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to certificated Securities, or otherwise to alter the provisions of Articles II and III, including to facilitate the issuance, legending or transfer of the Securities, in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder and does not result in any violation of applicable securities law; |
| (9) | to supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to permit or facilitate the Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or discharge of any series of Securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series; and |
| (10) | to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded. |
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided that the Company and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:
| (1) | change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, on or the rate of interest thereon, or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security into any other security, or alter the method of computation of interest, or make any Security payable in money other than that stated in such Security; |
| (2) | reduce the percentage in principal amount of Securities required for any such supplemental indenture or for any waiver provided for in this Indenture; |
| (3) | change the Company’s obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment of Securities and the other matters specified herein; |
| (4) | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Security; or |
| (5) | modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the execution of supplemental indentures with the consent of Holders of Securities which are discussed in this Section or modify any provisions relating to the waiver by Holders of Securities of past defaults and covenants, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby. |
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
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Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall enter into any supplemental indenture which does not adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series. Failure to make a notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity and effect of any amendment, supplement or waiver.
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency
The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee or Security Registrar) where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. 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, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, the Company hereby initially designates as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Corporate Trust Office, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as the Paying Agent, as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose.
With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust
If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and (3) during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.
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 trusts 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.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company pursuant to a Company Request and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the state whose escheat laws control for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such payment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be paid to the state whose escheat laws control.
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Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default; Change in Fiscal Year
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 150 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.
The Company will notify the Trustee of any change in the Company’s Fiscal Year.
Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1002 through 1004 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
A waiver which changes or eliminates any term, provision or condition of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such term, provision or condition, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee
In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, not less than five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be delivered or caused to be delivered to the Holders of Securities of such series (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (1) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (2) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for
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redemption, on a pro rata basis that complies with any securities exchange, automated quotation system or other applicable requirements for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple in excess thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail (if international mail, by air mail), postage prepaid, mailed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the Security Register, provided that notice of redemption may be mailed more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date in the case of a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or a discharge pursuant to Article IV, and subject in each case to Section 106 with respect to Holders of Global Securities.
All notices of redemption shall state:
| (1) | the Redemption Date, |
| (2) | the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price is not determinable prior to the giving of such notice, the method for calculating the Redemption Price, |
| (3) | if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, |
| (4) | that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, interest on such Security will cease to accrue on and after said date, |
| (5) | the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, |
| (6) | that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, |
| (7) | if such redemption is an optional redemption subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed, and |
| (8) | as provided in Section 311, if the Company used CUSIP numbers in issuing the Securities to be redeemed, such notice shall state the CUSIP numbers, that no representation is made as to the correctness of the CUSIP numbers listed in such notice or printed on the Securities, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and that the redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP numbers. |
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request made at least five Business Days prior to the date on which notice is to be given (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
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Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price
On or prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date (or such later time of day to which the Trustee may agree), the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee shall not be required to make any such deposit in the event that the Company fails to do so. The contemplated redemption shall be conditioned on the deposit by the Company of the required moneys thereby. The Trustee and any Paying Agent promptly shall pay or return to the Company upon Company Request any money held by them that has been deposited pursuant to this Section in excess of the amounts required to pay such Redemption Price.
Section 1106. Effect of Notice of Redemption
Notice of redemption, if mailed or delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not the Holder actually receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with interest accrued to but excluding the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record date according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge to such Holder, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only a Company Order and Officers’ Certificate (and not an Opinion of Counsel) is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Security.
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
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Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities
The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption), and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1105, 1106 and 1107.
ARTICLE XIII
DEFEASANCE
Section 1301. Applicability of Article
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to each series of Securities except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
Section 1302. Legal Defeasance
In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 401, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of a series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in clause (1) below, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and the Company’s right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor or on the specified redemption dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 607), (v) the rights, if any, to convert or exchange the Securities of such series, (vi) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them, and (vii) the obligations of the Company under Section 1002), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon a Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Defeasance”):
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| (1) | the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, for the purposes of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case 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 (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to clause (3) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; |
| (2) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, Defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge had not occurred; |
| (3) | if the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; |
| (4) | no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than any Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Debt the proceeds of which are to be applied to such deposit, and the granting of any liens in connection therewith); |
| (5) | such Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act); |
| (6) | such Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
| (7) | such Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered or exempt from registration thereunder; and |
| (8) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with. |
For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company and any other obligor upon the Securities of such series shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire debt represented by the Securities of such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1304 and the rights and obligations referred to in clause (i) through (vii), inclusive, of the first paragraph of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned.
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Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance
The Company and any other obligor shall be released on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in clause (1) below from its obligations under Section 704 and Article VIII with respect to the Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, waiver, consent or declaration or other action or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby. The following shall be the conditions to Covenant Defeasance:
| (1) | the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case 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 (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to clause (3) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; |
| (2) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which shall confirm that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; |
| (3) | if the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; |
| (4) | no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than any Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Debt the proceeds of which are to be applied to such deposit, and the granting of any liens in connection therewith); |
| (5) | such Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act); |
| (6) | such Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
| (7) | such Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered or exempt from registration thereunder; and |
49
| (8) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Covenant Defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with. |
Section 1304. Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 (and all funds earned on such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations) shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to Holders of the particular Securities of such series for the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 1305. Repayment to Company
The Trustee and any Paying Agent promptly shall pay or return to the Company upon Company Request any money and U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time that have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303, which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amounts required to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities in question.
The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303.
Section 1306. Reinstatement
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U. S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities of the applicable series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Indenture until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U. S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on any Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
[Signature page follows]
50
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed in multiple counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall together constitute but one and the same instrument, all as of the day and year first above written.
| FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| [TRUSTEE], as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Indenture]
Exhibit 5.1
SMITH, ANDERSON, BLOUNT,
DORSETT, MITCHELL & JERNIGAN, L.L.P.
LAWYERS
| OFFICES Wells Fargo Capitol Center 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2300 Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 |
August 14, 2024 | MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 2611 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-2611 | ||
| ____________
|
____________
TELEPHONE: (919) 821-1220 FACSIMILE: (919) 821-6800 |
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
| Re: | First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed by the Company on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration for issue and sale by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Act, of an indeterminate amount of (i) shares of common stock of the Company, $1.00 par value per share (“Common Stock”); (ii) shares of one or more series of preferred stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”); (iii) depositary shares representing a fraction or multiple of a share of Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”), evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”) pursuant to a deposit agreement to be entered into between the Company and a depositary to be selected by the Company (the “Deposit Agreement”); (iv) one or more series of subordinated debt securities of the Company (“Subordinated Debt Securities”), each to be issued under the indenture entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of March 4, 2020, as such indenture may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture”); (v) one or more series of senior debt securities of the Company (“Senior Debt Securities” and collectively with the Subordinated Debt Securities, “Debt Securities”), each to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be selected by the Company, in the form attached as Exhibit 4.[6] to the Registration Statement, as such indenture may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time (each a “Senior Debt Indenture”); (vi) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, or Units (as defined below) (“Warrants”) pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”); (vii) contracts for the purchase or sale of shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, or Warrants (“Purchase Contracts”) pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”); and (viii) units comprised of any of the foregoing, in any combination (“Units”). Shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts, and Units are collectively referred to herein as “Securities.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
August 14, 2024
Page 2
We have examined the Registration Statement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”), and such other documents and considered such matters of law and fact as we, in our professional judgment, have deemed appropriate to render the opinions contained herein. We call to your attention the fact that as a matter of customary practice, certain assumptions underlying opinions are understood to be implicit. With respect to certain facts, we have considered it appropriate to rely upon certificates or other comparable documents of public officials and officers or other appropriate representatives of the Company, without investigation or analysis of any underlying data contained therein.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the following:
(A) Immediately prior to the issuance of any shares of Common Stock, the Company will have available for issuance, under the Certificate of Incorporation, a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as is necessary to provide for such issuance.
(B) Immediately prior to the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock or any Depositary Shares, the Company will have available for issuance, under the Certificate of Incorporation, a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock as is necessary to provide for such issuance.
(C) Prior to the issuance of any Securities, the Board of Directors of the Company, and any committee thereof to the extent that the authority of the Board of Directors of the Company has been delegated thereto (collectively, the “Board”), will have taken or caused to be taken all necessary corporate action to establish the terms and to approve the issuance and offering of such Securities and related matters, including, with respect to any shares of Common Stock or series of Preferred Stock, the consideration therefor (not less than par value), and with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, the designation of the relative rights, preferences, and limitations of such Preferred Stock.
(D) Each issuance of Securities and the terms of such Securities will comply with the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the corporate action approving such issuance, all applicable law, all instruments binding on the Company, and any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
(E) The Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective, will be effective, and will comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations at the time the Securities are offered or issued.
(F) A prospectus supplement (each a “Prospectus Supplement”) will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations at the time the Securities are offered or issued.
(G) The Securities will be issued, offered, and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, including the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
(H) If applicable, a definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement with respect to any Securities to be issued (each a “Purchase Agreement”) will have been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto, and the Securities will be sold in accordance with the provisions of such Purchase Agreement.
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
August 14, 2024
Page 3
(I) The Company is and will remain duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under applicable state law.
(J) There shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or binding nature of the Securities.
(K) The Deposit Agreement, Subordinated Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Indenture, Senior Debt Securities and Senior Debt Indenture, Warrants and Warrant Agreements, Purchase Contract Agreements and Units and any agreements governing the Units (the “Unit Agreements”) will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further assumptions, limitations, and qualifications hereinafter expressed, it is our opinion that:
1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock: upon (i) the Company’s receipt of payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in any applicable Purchase Agreement and (ii) either (x) the countersigning of the certificate representing the shares of Common Stock by a duly authorized signatory of the registrar for Common Stock or (y) the book entry of such shares by the transfer agent for Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
2. With respect to any shares of any series of Preferred Stock: upon (i) the Company’s proper adoption and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, (ii) the Company’s receipt of payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in any applicable Purchase Agreement and, in the case of any shares of Preferred Stock underlying Depositary Shares, in accordance with any applicable Deposit Agreement, and (iii) either (x) the countersigning of the certificate representing the shares of Preferred Stock by a duly authorized signatory of the registrar for Preferred Stock or (y) the book entry of such shares by the transfer agent for Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
3. With respect to any Depositary Shares: when (i) the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) Depositary Shares have been duly issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with any applicable Purchase Agreement and any applicable Deposit Agreement, and (iii) shares of Preferred Stock have been delivered in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, such Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will entitle the holders of such Depositary Shares to the rights specified in the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Receipts.
4. With respect to any Subordinated Debt Securities: when (i) Subordinated Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Debt Indenture and (ii) the Company receives payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in any applicable Purchase Agreement, such Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
5. With respect to any Senior Debt Securities: when (i) the applicable Senior Debt Indenture has been (x) duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each party thereto and (y) duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (ii) such Senior Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of such Senior Debt Indenture, and (iii) the Company receives payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in any applicable Purchase Agreement, such Senior Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
August 14, 2024
Page 4
6. With respect to any Warrants, when (i) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) such Warrants have been issued in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement, and (iii) the Company receives payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in the applicable Warrant Agreement and any applicable Purchase Agreement, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
7. With respect to any series of Purchase Contracts, when (i) the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) such Purchase Contracts have been issued in accordance with the terms of the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement, and (iii) the Company receives payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
8. With respect to any Units, when (i) the applicable Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) such Units have been issued in accordance with the terms of the applicable Unit Agreement, and (iii) the Company receives payment of the consideration approved by the Board and as specified in the applicable Unit Agreement and any applicable Purchase Agreement, such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
We express no opinion as to any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no opinion, other than the opinions given herein, may be inferred or implied herefrom. Our opinions expressed herein are subject to (i) the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which may, among other things, deny rights of specific performance, and (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies. We express no opinion with respect to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums, or other economic remedies to the extent deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) any provision purporting to waive, or to reconstitute terms to avoid, a claim or defense of usury, (c) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Subordinated Debt Securities or Senior Debt Securities, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (d) any provision purporting to excuse a party for liability for its own acts, (e) any provision purporting to make void any act done in contravention thereof, (f) any provision purporting to authorize a party to act in its sole discretion or provide that determination by a party is conclusive, (g) any proxy, power, or trust, (h) any provision for exclusivity, election, or cumulation of rights or remedies, (i) any provision purporting to authorize a party to act in its sole discretion or to provide that determination by a party is conclusive, (j) any waiver of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury, or other procedural rights, (k) any provision requiring payment of attorneys’ fees, (l) any provision for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to applicable law or public policy, (m) any provision purporting to effect waivers of constitutional, statutory or equitable rights or the effect of
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
August 14, 2024
Page 5
applicable laws, (n) any provision providing for arbitration, (o) any provision permitting the exercise, under certain circumstances, of rights without notice or without providing opportunity to cure failures to perform. (p) any grant of setoff rights, (q) any provision requiring waivers or amendments to be made only in writing, (r) any provision prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to the assignment or transfer of any right or property, (s) any consent to, or restriction upon, governing law, jurisdiction of courts, venue of actions, means of service of process, arbitration, or judicial relief, (t) any provision regarding severability, or (u) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated other than in U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to matters governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law and, with respect to our opinions expressed in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 above, the laws of the State of New York, and no opinion is expressed herein as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. Opinions involving matters arising under the laws of the State of New York are given by lawyers in our firm who are licensed to practice in that jurisdiction. The opinions expressed herein do not extend to compliance with federal or state securities laws relating to the offer or sale of the Securities, and we express no opinion with respect to any law, rule, or regulation that is applicable to any Deposit Agreement, Subordinated Debt Indenture, Senior Debt Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Unit Agreement, or Purchase Contract Agreement or to the transactions contemplated thereby, solely because such law, rule, or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable as a result of the specific assets or business operations of any such party.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto. Such consent shall not be deemed to be an admission that our firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act.
Our opinions herein are expressed as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our opinions expressed herein.
| Sincerely yours, |
| /s/ Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. |
| SMITH, ANDERSON, BLOUNT, DORSETT, |
| MITCHELL & JERNIGAN, L.L.P. |
Exhibit 23.1
|
||
| KPMG LLP 4242 Six Forks Road Suite 850 Raleigh, NC 27609 |
||
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our reports dated February 23, 2024, except for Notes 1 and 23, as to which the date is August 14, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and our report dated January 26, 2024 with respect to the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A. by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
August 14, 2024
Exhibit 25.2
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
☐ Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
| 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Shawna L. Hale
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
214 North Tryon Street
27th Floor/ CN-NC-H27A
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(651) 443-5893
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 56-1528994 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 4300 Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina |
27609 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Subordinated Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of March 31, 2024, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Raleigh, State of North Carolina on the 14th of August, 2024.
| By: | /s/ Shawna L. Hale | |
| Shawna L. Hale | ||
| Vice President | ||
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
- 1 -
Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
- 2 -
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
- 3 -
| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
- 4 -
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
| /s/ Jeffrey T. Grubb |
| Jeffrey T. Grubb |
| /s/ Robert D. Sznewajs |
| Robert D. Sznewajs |
| /s/ Dwight V. Board |
| Dwight V. Board |
| /s/ P. K. Chatterjee |
| P. K. Chatterjee |
| /s/ Robert Lane |
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
|
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 |
CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS
I, Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:
1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.
2. “U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,” Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, December 13, 2023, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia.
|
||||
| Acting Comptroller of the Currency |
2024-00286-C
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(February 8, 2021)
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
| Dated: August 14, 2024 | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Shawna L. Hale | |||||
| Shawna L. Hale | ||||||
| Vice President | ||||||
Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 6/30/2024
($000’s)
| 6/30/2024 | ||||
| Assets |
||||
| Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions |
$ | 1,420,557 | ||
| Securities |
4,393 | |||
| Federal Funds |
0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
| Fixed Assets |
1,164 | |||
| Intangible Assets |
577,338 | |||
| Other Assets |
153,812 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Assets |
$ | 2,157,264 | ||
| Liabilities |
||||
| Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds |
0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
| Acceptances |
0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities |
215,138 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Liabilities |
$ | 215,138 | ||
| Equity |
||||
| Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
| Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits |
770,291 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Equity Capital |
$ | 1,942,126 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 2,157,264 | ||