Northwest Bancshares, Inc S-3ASR, filed Mar 2, 2026
Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (NWBI)
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Maryland | 27-0950358 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
3 Easton Oval, Suite 500
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(814) 726-2140
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Erin F. Siegfried
Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
3 Easton Oval, Suite 500
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(814) 726-2140
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications to:
James J. Barresi, Esq.
Aaron A. Seamon, Esq.
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
41 S. High St., Suite 2000
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 365-2700
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, a 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. ☐
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PROSPECTUS
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
Subscription Rights
The securities listed above may be offered and sold, from time to time, by Northwest Bancshares, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and/or one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future in amounts, at prices, and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering, including on a delayed or continuous basis. We will describe the specific terms and manner of offering of these securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. To understand the terms of the securities offered, you should carefully read this prospectus with the applicable supplements, which together provide the specific terms of the securities we are offering.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers on a continued or delayed basis. If we use underwriters, dealers, or agents to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NWBI.”
This prospectus may be used to offer and sell securities only if accompanied by the prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement for those securities.
You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” on page 7 of this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement and in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference for a discussion of certain risks and uncertainties you should consider.
These securities are not deposits or obligations of a bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is March 2, 2026.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic “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 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). By using an automatic shelf registration process, we, or, under certain circumstances, one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future, may offer and sell, from time to time, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an indeterminate total dollar amount.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we or any selling security holder may offer as well as other information you should know before investing in our securities. Each time that we or any selling security holder offers securities, we will file with the SEC a prospectus supplement and, if necessary, a pricing supplement, that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information contained in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded by any inconsistent information contained in a prospectus supplement or a pricing supplement.
We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, and we take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Accordingly, you should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement that we have authorized describing the terms of the specific securities being offered. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement or pricing supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described therein, or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is not permitted or otherwise unlawful.
You should read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Northwest Bancshares,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar references mean Northwest Bancshares, Inc., and references to the “Bank” mean Northwest Bank.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements may be identified by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions and analyses made by Northwest Bancshares in light of management’s experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual conditions or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following:
| • | the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the merger between the us and Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (the “Merger”) will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the effect of the Merger on the combined company’s customer and employee relationships and operating results; and other factors that may affect the results of operations and financial condition of the combined company; |
| • | inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins, our loan origination, or the fair value of financial instruments; |
| • | changes in asset quality, including increases in default rates on loans and higher levels of nonperforming loans and loan charge-offs generally; |
| • | changes in laws, government regulations or supervision, examination and enforcement priorities affecting financial institutions, including as part of the regulatory reform agenda of the Trump administration, as well as changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; |
| • | changes in federal, state, or local tax laws and tax rates; |
| • | general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, that are different than expected, including inflationary or recessionary pressures or those related to changes in monetary, fiscal, regulatory, tariff and international trade policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Department of Treasury and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and any related increases in compliance and other costs; |
| • | trade disputes, barriers to trade or the emergence of trade restrictions and the resulting impacts on market volatility and global trade; |
| • | growing fiscal deficits; |
| • | potential recession or slowing of growth in the U.S., Europe and other regions; developments in the Middle East and in Latin America; |
| • | adverse changes in the securities and credit markets; |
| • | instability or breakdown in the financial services sector, including failures or rumors of failures of other depository institutions, along with actions taken by governmental agencies to address such turmoil; |
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| • | cyber-security concerns, including an interruption or breach in the security of our website or other information systems; |
| • | technological changes that may be more difficult or expensive than expected; |
| • | changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio, and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; |
| • | the ability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; |
| • | competition among depository and other financial institutions, including with respect to deposit gathering, service charges and fees; |
| • | our ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities; |
| • | our ability to manage our growth internally and our ability to successfully integrate acquired entities, businesses or branch offices; |
| • | changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; |
| • | our ability to continue to increase and manage our commercial, including commercial real estate, and personal loans; |
| • | possible impairments of securities held by us, including those issued by government entities and government sponsored enterprises; |
| • | changes in the value of our goodwill or other intangible assets; |
| • | the impact of the economy on our loan portfolio (including cash flow and collateral values), investment portfolio, customers and capital market activities; |
| • | our ability to receive regulatory approvals for proposed transactions or new lines of business; |
| • | the effects of any federal government shutdown or the inability of the federal government to manage debt limits; |
| • | a prolonged government shutdown, which could adversely affect the U.S. and global economy; |
| • | changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers; |
| • | the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and other accounting standard setters; |
| • | changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; |
| • | our ability to access cost-effective funding; |
| • | the effect of global or national war, conflict, or terrorism; |
| • | our ability to manage market risk, credit risk and operational risk; |
| • | the disruption to local, regional, national and global economic activity caused by infectious disease outbreaks, and the significant impact that any such outbreaks may have on our growth, operations and earnings; |
| • | the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather events; |
| • | changes in our ability to continue to pay dividends, either at current rates or at all; |
| • | our ability to retain key employees; and |
| • | our compensation expense associated with equity allocated or awarded to our employees. |
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We discuss many of these risks, uncertainties and other factors in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in any prospectus supplement related hereto in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors.” Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We hereby qualify our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act that registers, among other securities, the offer and sale of the securities that we may offer under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the registration statement, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. These documents are available at the internet site that the SEC maintains, www.sec.gov. Upon written or oral request, we will provide — at no cost to the requester — a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. You may make a request by writing to the following address or calling the following telephone number:
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
3 Easton Oval Street
Suite 500
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Attention: Investor Relations
(814) 726-2140
In addition, we maintain a corporate website, www.northwest.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 registration statement.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate information into this prospectus by reference to another document separately filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document or in a more recent incorporated document. The information incorporated by reference contains important information about us and our financial condition and is an important part of this prospectus.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC.
| SEC Filings |
Period or Filing Date (as applicable) | |
| Annual Report on Form 10-K | Year ended December 31, 2025 | |
| The information in Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A; | March 7, 2025 | |
| The description of our common stock set forth in the registration statement filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description | December 14, 2009 |
In addition, we also incorporate by reference all future documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of our initial registration statement relating to the securities covered by this prospectus until the completion of the distribution of such securities. These documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K (other than current reports furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K), as well as proxy statements.
In addition, we maintain a corporate website, www.northwest.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 or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
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Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated into this prospectus by reference, as updated by Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or any applicable pricing supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or focused on or that management deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Northwest Bancshares is a Maryland corporation and the parent of Northwest Bank. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had consolidated total assets of $16.8 billion, deposits of $13.9 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $1.9 billion. The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NWBI.”
Northwest Bank is a Pennsylvania-chartered savings bank headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania, which is located in northwestern Pennsylvania. Northwest Bank’s mutual savings bank predecessor was founded in 1896. As of December 31, 2025, Northwest Bank operated 161 community-banking locations in Pennsylvania, New York, northeastern Ohio and Indiana. Northwest Bank also offers investment management and trust services. The Bank’s principal lending activities are the origination of loans secured by first mortgages on owner-occupied, one- to four-family residences, shorter-term consumer loans, and commercial business and commercial real estate loans.
Our executive offices are located at 3 Easton Oval, Suite 500, Columbus, Ohio 43219. We also maintain administrative offices located at 100 Liberty Street, Warren, Pennsylvania 16365. The telephone number for these addresses is (814) 726-2140.
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement with respect to the proceeds from the sale of the particular securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, which may include funding the repayment or redemption of outstanding debt, share repurchases, investments in the Bank, as regulatory capital or otherwise, ongoing operations, interest and dividend payments and possible acquisitions of businesses or assets. Unless set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that securities are sold by a selling security holder
The precise amounts and the timing of our use of the net proceeds will depend upon market conditions, our subsidiaries’ funding requirements, the availability of other funds and other factors. Until we use the net proceeds from the sale of any of our securities for general corporate purposes, we will use the net proceeds to redeem indebtedness or for temporary investments. We expect that we will, on a recurrent basis, engage in additional financings as the need arises to finance our corporate strategies, to fund our subsidiaries, to finance acquisitions or otherwise.
The prospectus supplement with respect to an offering of any security may identify different or additional uses for the proceeds of that offering.
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This prospectus contains a summary of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts, units and subscription rights that may be offered under this prospectus. 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 security holders to be identified in the future. The following summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. The prospectus supplement and the pricing supplement, if applicable, contain the material terms and conditions for each security. You should read all of these documents as well as the documents filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus that are not defined will have the meanings given to them in these documents.
Description of Debt Securities
General
We may issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, either of which may be issued as convertible or exchangeable debt securities. This prospectus describes the general terms and conditions of the debt securities that we may offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. The terms and conditions of the debt securities of a series may be different in one or more respects from the terms and conditions described below. If so, those differences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the debt securities in one or more series pursuant to either a senior indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, or a subordinated indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of provisions of the indentures does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the forms of indenture, each form of which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We urge you to read the indentures and any supplemental indenture or similar document that is filed, because they, and not this description, define your rights as holder of our debt securities. Except as otherwise noted, all capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indentures.
Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indenture. We may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, issue additional debt securities ranking equally with, and otherwise similar in all respects to, the debt securities of the series (except for any differences in the issue price and, if applicable, the initial interest accrual date and interest payment date) so that those additional debt securities will be consolidated and form a single series with the debt securities of the series previously offered and sold; provided that if necessary, the additional debt securities may have a separate CUSIP or other identifying number. As of the date of this prospectus, we had not issued any debt securities under either indenture.
Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indentures, the terms of the indentures do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of any debt securities protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. Neither indenture contains provisions that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or credit rating.
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The debt securities will be direct unsecured general obligations. Neither indenture requires our subsidiaries to guarantee the debt securities. As a result, the holders of debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of all creditors and preferred shareholders of our subsidiaries.
Senior Debt Securities
Senior debt securities will be issued under the senior debt indenture. Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured senior debt.
Subordinated Debt Securities
Subordinated debt securities will be issued under the subordinated debt indenture. Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, including senior debt securities and other debt to the extent described in a prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, it is currently intended that the subordinated debt securities will qualify as Tier 2 Capital under the guidelines established by the Federal Reserve for savings and loan holding companies. The guidelines set forth specific criteria for subordinated debt to qualify as Tier 2 Capital. Among other things, the subordinated debt must:
| • | be unsecured; |
| • | have an average maturity of at least five years; |
| • | be subordinated in right of payment; |
| • | not contain provisions permitting the holders of the debt to accelerate payment of principal prior to maturity except in the event of bankruptcy of the issuer; |
| • | not contain provisions permitting the issuer of the debt to redeem the security prior to the maturity date without prior approval of the Federal Reserve; and |
| • | not contain provisions that would adversely affect liquidity or unduly restrict management’s flexibility to operate the organization, particularly in times of financial difficulty, such as limitations on additional secured or senior borrowings, sales or dispositions of assets or changes in control. |
Terms of Each Series of Debt Securities to be Provided Supplementally
A prospectus supplement and any supplemental indenture relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:
| • | the form and title of the debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and the terms of subordination; |
| • | the principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the price(s), expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
| • | the date(s) when principal payments are due on the debt securities; |
| • | the interest rate(s) on the debt securities, which may be fixed or variable, per annum or otherwise, and the method used to determine the rate(s), the dates on which interest will begin to accrue and be payable, and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
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| • | the place(s) where principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable; |
| • | the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest; |
| • | the portion of the principal of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the entire principal amount; |
| • | provisions governing redemption of the debt securities, including any redemption or purchase requirements pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities, and the redemption price and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations; |
| • | any right we may have to defer payments of interest by extending the dates payments are due and whether interest on those deferred amounts will be payable as well; |
| • | the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into other securities of ours and the terms and conditions upon which any conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period and any other provisions in addition to or instead of those described in this prospectus; |
| • | any additional or modified events of default from those described in this prospectus or in the indenture and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture; |
| • | any additional or modified covenants from those described in this prospectus or in the applicable indenture; and |
| • | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities. |
We may issue debt securities under the indentures as “discount securities,” which means they may be offered and sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will also set forth the securities exchange or quotation system on which debt securities are listed or quoted, if any.
Provisions Contained in the Indentures
Global Securities
We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that we will deposit with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such registered global security to it nominee; by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by a registered global security.
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Conversion or Exchange Rights
Debt securities that we issue may be convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or property. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
| • | provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities; |
| • | the conversion or exchange price, and any events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; |
| • | the conversion or exchange period; and |
| • | provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities. |
Information Concerning the Indenture Trustee
Under provisions of the indentures and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), if a trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee will either eliminate such interest or resign in the manner provided by the indentures. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the applicable indenture in accordance with its terms and conditions.
The trustee may resign with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed by us to act with respect to any such series. The trustee may be removed with respect to a series of debt securities by the Company in accordance with the terms of the indenture, or by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of such series at any time.
Each indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, in the event that it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in some cases, or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise.
No Individual Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees or Stockholders
The indentures provide that none of our officers, directors, employees or stockholders will have any liability for any of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities or for any claim based on, inspect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities, by accepting a debt security, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities.
Legal Defeasance
We may deposit with the trustee, in trust, cash or U.S. government securities in an amount that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, which is sufficient to make all payments of principal and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities of that series on the due dates for such payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities. If we make such a deposit, unless otherwise provided under the applicable series of debt securities, we will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of such series (except for obligations relating to the transfer or exchange of debt securities and the replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities and relating to maintaining paying agencies and the treatment of funds held by paying agents and certain rights of the trustee and our obligations with respect thereto). However, this discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee a legal opinion stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and, based thereon
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confirming that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Covenant Defeasance
Under the indentures (and unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities), upon making the deposit and delivering the legal opinion described above under “—Legal Defeasance,” we will not need to comply with certain covenants, including those described below under “—Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale,” as well as any additional covenants that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any such noncompliance will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series, or covenant defeasance.
If we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amounts on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. We will remain liable for those payments.
Satisfaction and Discharge
We may discharge our obligations under either indenture and the debt securities of a series (except for certain surviving rights of the trustee and our obligations in connection therewith) if: (a) all outstanding debt securities of that series and all other outstanding debt securities issued under such indenture (i) have been delivered for cancellation, or (ii) (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, (3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice and redemption by the trustee or (4) are deemed paid and discharged in a legal defeasance described above (and in the case of clauses (1), (2) and (3), we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest on all outstanding debt securities and any other sums due on the stated maturity date or redemption date, as the case may be); (b) we have paid all other sums payable by us under such indenture; and (c) we have delivered an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel confirming.
Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale
The indentures provide that we may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, and we may not permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us or to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, unless the following conditions are satisfied:
| • | we are the surviving person or the successor person (if not us) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any United States domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes, by a supplemental indenture, our obligations on the debt securities and under such indenture; |
| • | immediately after giving effect to such transaction, and treating any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of us or our subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by us or such subsidiary at the effective date of such transaction, no default or event of default under such indenture will have occurred and be continuing; and |
| • | we have complied with our obligations to deliver certain documentation to the applicable trustee, including an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel each stating that such proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with such indenture. |
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The remaining or acquiring person, association or entity will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. Thereafter, the successor may exercise our rights and powers under the indentures, in our name or in its own name. If we sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under any indenture and under the debt securities. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be released from our obligations under the indentures.
Events of Default and Remedies
For any series of debt securities, an event of default will include the following events:
| • | default in the payment when due of any interest on any debt securities of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless we deposit the entire amount of such payment with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of such 30-day period); |
| • | default in the payment when due of principal of any debt security of that series; |
| • | default in the deposit when due of any sinking fund payment in respect of any debt security of that series; |
| • | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty in the indenture that applies to such series, which default continues (without such default or breach having been waived in accordance with the provisions of the indenture) for a period of 90 days after we have received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the indenture; |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us; and |
| • | any other event of default provided in the supplemental indenture under which we issue such series of debt securities. |
An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indentures.
If an event of default with respect to any outstanding debt securities occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by written notice to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), accelerate the payment of the principal (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. Such acceleration is automatic, without any notice required, in the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
At any time after acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series, but before the trustee has obtained a court judgment or decree for payment of the amounts due, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities will contain particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.
The indentures provide that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any rights or powers under such indenture at the request of any holder of outstanding debt securities unless the trustee is indemnified to its satisfaction against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will 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 debt securities of that series.
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No holder of any debt security may institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| • | such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series; |
| • | the holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of default in its own name as trustee under the indenture; |
| • | such holder or holders have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in complying with such request; |
| • | the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of security and indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
| • | no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
Under the indentures we must furnish the trustee a statement as to compliance with such indenture within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal year ending immediately following the execution of such indenture). The indentures provide that, other than with respect to payment defaults, the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of a default or event of default if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification of Indentures
Each indenture provides that we and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of our debt securities, enter into supplemental indentures to:
| • | evidence the succession of another person to the Company as obligor under the indenture and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company in the indenture and debt securities, or evidence the addition or release of any guarantor in accordance with the indenture or any supplemental indenture; |
| • | add to the Company’s covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions to protect the holders of the debt securities and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the indenture, with such period of grace, if any, and subject to such conditions as such supplemental indenture may provide; |
| • | add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide that bearer securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on bearer securities or to permit or facilitate the issuance of securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; |
| • | surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company; |
| • | add or change any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated or global form; |
| • | provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trust under the indenture by more than one trustee; |
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| • | cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; |
| • | add any additional events of default (and if such events of default are to be for less than all series of debt securities, stating that such are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities; |
| • | modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture, if the change or elimination (i) becomes effective only when there are no debt securities outstanding of any series created prior to the change or elimination that are entitled to the benefit of the changed or eliminated provision or (ii) shall not apply to the any debt securities outstanding at the time of such change or elimination; |
| • | establish the form of the debt securities of a series and to provide for the issuance of any other series of debt securities under the indenture; |
| • | comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
| • | modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture to such extent as is necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or under any similar federal statute hereafter enacted, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding certain provisions thereof; or |
| • | make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities of any series issued under the indenture. |
Each indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of all series of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected thereby (voting as one class), add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| • | reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required to amend or supplement the indenture or any supplemental indenture, waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults and the consequences thereof under the indenture, or any change to such defaults that require such consent; |
| • | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt securities or any additional amounts owed thereon; |
| • | reduce the principal or change the stated maturity of any debt securities; |
| • | waive a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of, interest or any Additional Amounts, if any, on any debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| • | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, holders’ rights to receive payment of the principal of and interest on the debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and waivers of past defaults; |
| • | make the principal of or interest, if any, on any debt securities or any Additional Amount with respect thereto payable in any currency other than that stated in the debt securities; |
| • | waive or change any redemption payment with respect to any debt securities; or |
| • | make any change to provisions of the indenture to remove any of the limitations in this paragraph upon us or the trustee. |
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Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
The following summary contains a description of the general terms of our common stock. Each share of common stock has the same relative rights as, and is identical in all respects to, each other share of common stock. The rights of the holders of our common stock are governed by the Company’s articles of incorporation and by Maryland General Corporation Law. Our board of directors may at any time, without additional approval of the holders of our common stock or preferred stock, issue additional authorized shares of common stock.
General
We are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Our articles of incorporation permit our board of directors, without action by the stockholders, to amend the articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2025, we had 146,107,964 shares of common stock outstanding. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NWBI.”
Voting Rights
Holders of common stock of Northwest Bancshares have exclusive voting rights in Northwest Bancshares. They elect Northwest Bancshares’ board of directors and act on other matters that are required to be presented to them under Maryland law or that are otherwise presented to them by the board of directors. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share and does not have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. However, any person who beneficially owns more than 10% of the then-outstanding shares of Northwest Bancshares’ common stock is not entitled or permitted to vote any shares of common stock held in excess of the 10% limit. If Northwest Bancshares issues shares of preferred stock, holders of the preferred stock may also possess voting rights. Certain matters require the approval of 80% of Northwest Bancshares’ outstanding common stock.
Dividends
Northwest Bancshares generally may pay dividends on its common stock if, after giving effect to such distribution, (i) it would be able to pay its indebtedness as the indebtedness comes due in the usual course of business or (ii) its total assets exceed the sum of its liabilities and the amount needed, if Northwest Bancshares were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of any holders of capital stock who have a preference in the event of dissolution. The holders of common stock of Northwest Bancshares are entitled to receive and share equally in dividends as may be declared by Northwest Bancshares’ board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. If Northwest Bancshares issues shares of preferred stock, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock with respect to dividends. The payment of dividends by Northwest Bancshares is also subject to limitations that are imposed by federal law, regulation and policy.
The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement providing that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the holding company’s prospective rate of earnings retention is consistent with its capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Federal regulatory guidance also provides for prior regulatory consultation with respect to capital distributions in certain circumstances such as where the holding company’s net income for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid over that period, is insufficient to fully fund the dividend or the holding company’s overall rate or earnings retention is inconsistent with its capital needs and overall financial condition.
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Liquidation
In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Northwest Bancshares, the holders of its common stock would be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all its debts and liabilities (including payments with respect to its liquidation account), all of the assets of Northwest Bancshares available for distribution. If preferred stock is issued, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution.
Preemptive Rights
Holders of the common stock of Northwest Bancshares are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares that may be issued. Our common stock is not subject to redemption.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions
Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain several provisions that may be deemed to have the effect of discouraging or delaying attempts to gain control of us. Such provisions include, among other things, the requirement of a supermajority vote of stockholders or directors to approve certain business combinations and other corporate actions, special procedural rules regarding nomination for election to the board of directors or the introduction of new business at meetings of stockholders, allowing the board to give due consideration to constituencies other than our stockholders in evaluating acquisition or merger proposals, providing that a director may be removed prior to the expiration of his or her term only for cause, upon the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to be voted in the election of directors, a staggered board of directors, prohibiting cumulative voting for any purpose and a vote limitation on shares owned in excess of 10% of Northwest Bancshares’ outstanding shares. The foregoing provisions could impede a change of control. In particular, classification of the board of directors has the effect of decreasing the number of directors that could be elected in a single year by any person who seeks to elect its designees to a majority of the seats on the board. Furthermore, allowing the board to consider non-stockholder constituencies may have the effect of increasing the board’s discretion to reject acquisition or merger proposals.
Additionally, in certain instances, the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock may have an anti-takeover effect. The authority of the board of directors to issue preferred stock with rights and privileges, including voting rights, as it may deem appropriate, may enable the board to prevent a change of control despite a shift in ownership of our common stock. In addition, the board’s authority to issue additional shares of common stock may help deter or delay a change of control by increasing the number of shares needed to gain control.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
Description of Preferred Stock
The following summary contains a description of the general terms of the preferred stock that we may issue pursuant to this prospectus. The specific terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The terms of any series of preferred stock may differ from the terms described below. You should read the particular terms of any series of preferred stock we offer in any prospectus supplement relating to such series, together with the more detailed provisions of our articles of incorporation and the articles supplementary with respect to each particular series of preferred stock, which will be filed as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The prospectus supplement also will state whether any of the terms summarized below do not apply to the series of preferred stock being offered.
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General
We are authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2025, we had no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Our articles of incorporation permit our board of directors to authorize the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series, without additional approval of the holders of our common stock or preferred stock. The board of directors can establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and fix the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the shares of each such series.
Prior to the issuance of any series of preferred stock, the board will adopt resolutions creating and designating the series as a series of preferred stock and articles supplementary setting forth the preferences, rights, limitations and other terms of such series will be filed with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
The preferred stock will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights stated in this section unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock being offered for specific terms, including:
| • | the title, stated value and liquidation preferences of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered; |
| • | the initial public offering price at which the preferred stock will be issued; |
| • | the dividend rate(s) (or method of calculation), the dividend periods, the dates on which dividends will be payable and whether these dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates at which the dividends will begin to cumulate; |
| • | any redemption or sinking fund provisions; and |
| • | any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions. |
In addition, unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we will have the right to “reopen” a previous issue of a series of preferred stock by issuing additional preferred stock of such series.
We may, at our option, with respect to any series of the preferred stock, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares. See “Description of Depositary Shares” below.
Rank
With respect to the payment of dividends and the priority of payments upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock generally will rank senior to all classes of common stock and equally with each other series of preferred stock. The rights of holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.
Dividends
The holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive cash dividends out of funds legally available, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, at the rates and on the dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. These rates may be fixed or variable. If the dividend rate is variable, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the formula used to determine the dividend rate for each dividend period. We will pay dividends to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on the applicable record
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dates. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, dividends on any series of preferred stock will be cumulative.
The board will not declare and pay a dividend on any of our stock ranking as to dividends, equal with or junior to the preferred stock unless full dividends on the preferred stock have been declared and paid (or declared and sufficient money set aside for payment).
Until dividends are paid in full or declared and set aside for payment on any series of preferred stock ranking equal with the preferred stock as to dividends:
| • | we will declare all dividends pro rata among the preferred stock of each series, so that the amount of dividends declared per share on each series will have the same relationship to each other that accrued dividends per share on each series of preferred stock and other preferred stock bear to each other; |
| • | other than the pro rata dividends, we will not declare or pay or set aside for payment dividends, or declare or make any other distribution on any security ranking junior to or equal with the preferred stock offered under this prospectus as to dividends or at liquidation (except dividends or distributions paid for in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe or purchase shares of securities ranking junior to or equal with the preferred stock as to dividends and at liquidation); and |
| • | we will not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for any consideration (or have any monies paid to or set aside in a sinking fund) any securities ranking junior to or equal with the preferred stock as to dividends or at liquidation (except by conversion into or exchange for our stock that ranks junior to the preferred stock as to dividends and at liquidation). |
We will not pay interest, or money in lieu of interest, for any dividend payments on any series of the preferred stock that are in arrears.
Rights Upon Liquidation
If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock and any other securities that have rights equal to that series of preferred stock under these circumstances, will be entitled to receive out of our assets that are available for distribution to stockholders:
| • | liquidation distributions in the amount stated in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| • | all accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared), before any distribution to holders of common stock or of any securities ranking junior to the series of preferred stock. |
Neither the sale of all or any part of our property and business, nor our merger into or consolidation with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation with or into us, will be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up.
If our assets are insufficient to pay all amounts to which holders of preferred stock are entitled, we will make no distribution on the preferred stock or on any other securities ranking equal to the preferred stock unless we make a pro rata distribution to those holders. After we pay the full amount of the liquidation distribution to which the holders are entitled, the holders will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.
Because we are a holding company, our rights, the rights of our creditors and of our stockholders, including the holders of the preferred stock offered by this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or recapitalization may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.
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Redemption
A series of the preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option, and may be subject to mandatory redemption under a sinking fund or otherwise as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The preferred stock that we redeem will be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock that we may issue in the future.
If a series of preferred stock is subject to mandatory redemption, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify the number of shares that we will redeem in each year and the redemption price per share together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends on those shares to the redemption date. The applicable prospectus supplement will state whether the redemption price can be paid in cash or other property. If the redemption price is to be paid only from the net proceeds of issuing our capital stock, the terms of the series of preferred stock may provide that, if the capital stock has not been issued or if the net proceeds are not sufficient to pay the full redemption price then due, the shares relating to series of the preferred stock will automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of our capital stock under the conversion provisions of the applicable prospectus supplement.
If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of any series of the preferred stock are to be redeemed, the redemption will be made in a manner that the board of directors decides is equitable.
Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue after the redemption date on shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of such shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.
Voting Rights
Holders of preferred stock generally will not have voting rights except in certain limited circumstances, although the board of directors may provide voting rights for any newly created series of preferred stock. The holders of shares of preferred stock will have no voting rights, except as otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement; as otherwise stated in the applicable articles supplementary establishing such series; or as required by applicable law.
Under Federal Reserve regulations, if the holders of any series of preferred stock become entitled to vote for the election of directors, that series may then be considered a class of voting securities. A holder of 25% or more of a series may then be subject to regulation as a savings and loan holding company under Home Owners Loan Act or a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, depending on the nature of the holder. In addition, at the time that the series are deemed a class of voting securities, any savings and loan holding company may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve in order to acquire more than 5% of that series and any person other than a savings and loan holding company may be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire 10% or more of that series.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
The terms on which shares of preferred stock of any series may be converted into or exchanged for another class or series of securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each series of preferred stock will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
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Description of Depositary Shares
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares, which represent an interest in fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.
The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary named in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
Withdrawal of Stock
Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.
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Voting the Depositary Shares
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
Notices
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, which are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
Limitation of Liability
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their duties thereunder. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in
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the appropriate prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the accompanying prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities in the unit prior to the warrants’ expiration date. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Further terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:
| • | the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; |
| • | any applicable anti-dilution provisions; |
| • | any applicable redemption or call provisions; |
| • | the circumstances under which the warrant exercise price may be adjusted; |
| • | whether the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit; |
| • | any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
| • | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents; |
| • | the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange; |
| • | the designation and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of the debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
| • | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock will be separately transferable; |
| • | the principal amount of debt securities, the number of shares of preferred stock, the number of depositary shares or the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and |
| • | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
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Description of 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. The price of our debt securities or price per share of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish.
The applicable prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about the purchase contracts issued under it:
| • | whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both, our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, as applicable, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or method of determining those amounts; |
| • | whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not; |
| • | whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of our common stock or preferred stock; |
| • | any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; |
| • | U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase contracts; and |
| • | whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered global form. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts. The preceding description and any description of purchase contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contract agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such purchase contracts.
We may issue units comprised of two or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| • | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; |
| • | the terms of the unit agreement governing the units; |
| • | U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the units; and |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of unit agreement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such units, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.
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Description of Subscription Rights
The following briefly summarizes the general provisions of subscription rights to purchase additional shares of our common stock, any series of preferred stock or debt securities that we may issue. The specific terms of any subscription rights, including the period during which the subscriptions rights may be exercised, the manner of exercising such subscription rights, and the transferability of subscription rights, will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
General
We may distribute subscription rights, which may or may not be transferable, to the holders of our common stock, holders of any series of our preferred stock or holders of our debt securities as of a record date set by our board of directors, at no cost to such holders. Each holder will be given the right to purchase a specified number of whole shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities for every share of our common stock, share of a series of preferred stock, or our debt securities that the holder thereof owned on such record date, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The subscription rights will be evidenced by subscription rights certificates, which may be in definitive or book-entry form. Each right will entitle the holder to purchase shares of our common stock, a series of preferred stock or our debt securities at a rate and price to be established by our board of directors, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If holders of rights wish to exercise their subscription rights, they must do so before the expiration date of the subscription rights offering, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon the expiration date, the subscription rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable, unless, in our sole discretion prior to the expiration date, we extend the subscription rights offering.
Exercise Price
Our board of directors will determine the exercise price or prices for the subscription rights based upon a number of factors, including, without limitation, our business prospects; our capital requirements; the price or prices at which an underwriter or standby purchasers may be willing to purchase securities that remain unsold in the subscription rights offering; and general conditions in the securities markets, especially for securities of financial institutions.
The subscription price may or may not reflect the actual or long-term fair value of the common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered in the subscription rights offering. We provide no assurances as to the market values or liquidity of any subscription rights issued, or as to whether or not the market prices of the common stock, preferred stock or debt securities subject to the subscription rights will be more or less than the subscription rights’ exercise price during the term of the rights or after the rights expire.
Exercising Rights; Fees and Expenses
The manner of exercising subscription rights will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any subscription agent or escrow agent will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will pay all fees charged by any subscription agent and escrow agent in connection with the distribution and exercise of subscription rights. Subscription rights holders will be responsible for paying all other commissions, fees, taxes or other expenses incurred in connection with their transfer of subscription rights that are transferable. Neither we nor the subscription agent will pay such expenses.
Expiration of Rights
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the expiration date and time (“Expiration Date”) for exercising subscription rights. If holders of subscription rights do not exercise their subscription rights prior to such time, their subscription rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable and will have no value.
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We will extend the Expiration Date as required by applicable law and may, in our sole discretion, extend the Expiration Date. If we elect to extend the Expiration Date, we will issue a press release announcing such extension prior to the scheduled Expiration Date.
Withdrawal and Termination
We may withdraw the subscription rights offering at any time prior to the Expiration Date for any reason. We may terminate the subscription rights offering, in whole or in part, at any time before completion of the subscription rights offering if there is any judgment, order, decree, injunction, statute, law or regulation entered, enacted, amended or held to be applicable to the subscription rights offering that in the sole judgment of our board of directors would or might make the subscription rights offering or its completion, whether in whole or in part, illegal or otherwise restrict or prohibit completion of the subscription rights offering. We may waive any of these conditions and choose to proceed with the subscription rights offering even if one or more of these events occur. If we terminate the subscription rights offering, in whole or in part, all affected rights will expire without value, and all subscription payments received by the subscription agent will be returned promptly without interest.
Rights of Subscribers
Holders of subscription rights will have no rights as holders with respect to our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities for which the rights may be exercised until they have exercised their rights by payment in full of the exercise price and in the manner provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, and such common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, as applicable, have been issued to such persons. Holders of subscription rights will have no right to revoke their subscriptions or receive their monies back after they have completed and delivered the materials required to exercise their subscription rights and have paid the exercise price to the subscription agent. All exercises of rights will be final and cannot be revoked by the holder of rights.
Regulatory Limitations
We will not be required to issue any person or group of persons shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities pursuant to the subscription rights offering if, in our sole opinion, such person would be required to give prior notice to or obtain prior approval from, any state or federal governmental authority to own or control such securities if, at the time the rights offering is scheduled to expire, such person has not obtained such clearance or approval in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to us.
Standby Agreements
We may enter into one or more separate agreements with one or more standby underwriters or other persons to purchase, for their own account or on our behalf, our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities not subscribed for in the subscription rights offering. The terms of any such agreements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We and/or one or more selling security holders may sell the securities offered through this prospectus through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers, through agents, or through any combination thereof.
Each prospectus supplement, to the extent applicable, will describe the number and terms of the securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, the name or names of any underwriters or agents with whom we have entered into arrangements with respect to the sale of such securities, the public offering or purchase price of such securities and the net proceeds we will receive from such sale. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also sell securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so.
If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.
We may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Securities may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (1) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of the shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (2) purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (3) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable stock exchange rules; (4) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (5) sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for shares; and (6) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the shares which is not expected to exceed that which is customary in the types of transactions involved.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase our securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions or discounts we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).
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The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Columbus, Ohio.
The consolidated financial statements of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2025, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Set forth below is an estimate of the approximate amount of fees and expenses which we may incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation.
| Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee |
$ | — | (1) | |
| Listing fees |
(2) | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Blue Sky expenses |
(2) | |||
| Printing |
(2) | |||
| Trustee’s expenses |
(2) | |||
| Fees of rating agencies |
(2) | |||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Miscellaneous expenses |
(2) | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | (2) | ||
|
|
|
| (1) | Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and calculated in accordance with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act. |
| (2) | The aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation provide as follows:
ARTICLE 10. Indemnification, etc. of Directors and Officers.
A. Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify (1) its current and former directors and officers, whether serving the Corporation or at its request any other entity, to the fullest extent required or permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) now or hereafter in force, including the advancement of expenses under the procedures and to the fullest extent permitted by law, and (2) other employees and agents to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors and permitted by law; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section B of this Article 10 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
B. Procedure. If a claim under Section A of this Article 10 is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall also be entitled to be reimbursed the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. It shall be a defense to any action for advancement of expenses that the Corporation has not received both (i) an undertaking as required by law to repay such advances in the event it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met and (ii) a written affirmation by the
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indemnitee of his good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the MGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the MGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article 10 or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
C. Non-Exclusivity. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article 10 shall not be exclusive of any other right that any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, these Articles, the Corporation’s Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or the Board of Directors, or otherwise.
D. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to insure itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such Person against such expense, liability or loss under the MGCL.
E. Miscellaneous. The Corporation shall not be liable for any payment under this Article 10 in connection with a claim made by any indemnitee to the extent such indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment under any insurance policy, agreement, or otherwise, of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in Sections A and B of this Article 10 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
F. Limitations Imposed by Federal Law. Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Article 10, in no event shall any payments made by the Corporation pursuant to this Article 10 exceed the amount permissible under applicable federal law, including, without limitation, Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Any repeal or modification of this Article 10 shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to events occurring, or claims made, while this Article 10 is in force.
ARTICLE 11. Limitation of Liability. An officer or director of the Corporation, as such, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages, except (A) to the extent that it is proved that the Person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received; or (B) to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the Person’s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding; or (C) to the extent otherwise provided by the MGCL. If the MGCL is amended to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of officers and directors, then the liability of officers and directors of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL, as so amended.
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Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
Item 16. Exhibits.
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of the Registration Statement:
| * | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference to a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
| ** | To be subsequently filed, when appropriate, pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
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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) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table 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;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) 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) 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.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 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
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 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) 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.
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(5) 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;
(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;
(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.
(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose 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.
(7) 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 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(8) 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 (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Columbus, State of Ohio, on March 2, 2026.
| NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Louis Torchio | |
| Louis Torchio | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| (Duly Authorized Representative) | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned directors and officers of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby severally constitute and appoint Louis Torchio and Douglas M. Schosser, and each of them as our true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, to do any and all things in our names in the capacities indicated below which said attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the offering of the Company’s securities, including specifically, but not limited to, power and authority to sign for us in our names in the capacities indicated below the registration statement and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto; and we hereby approve, ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signatures |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Louis J. Torchio Louis J. Torchio |
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Douglas M. Schosser Douglas M. Schosser |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Joseph D. Canfield Jr. Joseph D. Canfield Jr. |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Timothy M. Hunter Timothy M. Hunter |
Chairman and Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Robert M. Campana Robert M. Campana |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Deborah J. Chadsey Deborah J. Chadsey |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
Table of Contents
| /s/ Wilbur R. Davis Wilbur R. Davis |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Timothy B. Fannin Timothy B. Fannin |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Richard A. Grafmyre Richard A. Grafmyre |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ John P. Meegan John P. Meegan |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Mark A. Paup Mark A. Paup |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ David M. Tullio David M. Tullio |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Pablo A. Vegas Pablo A. Vegas |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Amber L. Williams Amber L. Williams |
Director | March 2, 2026 | ||
Exhibit 4.6
NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.,
AS ISSUER
AND
[ ],
AS TRUSTEE
SENIOR INDENTURE
DATED AS OF [ ], 20[ ]
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ].
| SECTION OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT | SECTION OF INDENTURE | |
| 310(a)(1) and (2) | 7.09 | |
| 310(a)(3) and (4) | Not applicable | |
| 310(a)(5) | 7.09 | |
| 310(b) | 7.08 and 7.10 | |
| 311(a) and (b) | 7.13 | |
| 312(a) | 5.01 and 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) and (c) | 5.02(b) and (c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b)(1) | Not applicable | |
| 313(b)(2) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(c) | |
| 313(d) | 5.04(d) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03 | |
| 314(b) | Not applicable | |
| 314(c)(1) and (2) | 14.04 | |
| 314(c)(3) | Not applicable | |
| 314(d) | Not applicable | |
| 314(e) | 15.05 | |
| 314(f) | Not applicable | |
| 315(a), (c) and (d) | 7.01 | |
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(e) | 6.14 | |
| 316(a)(1) | 6.12 | |
| 316(a)(2) | Omitted | |
| 316(a) last sentence | 8.04 | |
| 316(b) | 6.08 | |
| 316(c) | 8.06 | |
| 317(a) | 6.03 and 6.04 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03(a) | |
| 318(a) | 15.07 | |
| Note: | This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. |
Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including Section 317 of the Trust Indenture Act are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page(s) | ||||
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
| SECTION 1.01. Definitions |
1 | |||
| ARTICLE 2 ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.03. Form of Securities Generally; Establishment of Terms of Series |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.04. Securities in Global Form |
8 | |||
| SECTION 2.05. Denominations; Record Date; Payment of Interest |
8 | |||
| SECTION 2.06. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Securities |
9 | |||
| SECTION 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities |
10 | |||
| SECTION 2.08. Temporary Securities |
12 | |||
| SECTION 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities |
12 | |||
| SECTION 2.10. Cancellation |
13 | |||
| SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Only System |
13 | |||
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
13 | |||
| SECTION 3.01. Redemption of Securities, Applicability of Section |
13 | |||
| SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption, Selection of Securities |
14 | |||
| SECTION 3.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption |
15 | |||
| SECTION 3.04. Redemption Suspended During Event of Default |
15 | |||
| ARTICLE 4 PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.02. Offices for Notices and Payments |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.03. Provisions as to Paying Agent |
16 | |||
| SECTION 4.04. Statement as to Compliance |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.06. Ownership of Material Subsidiary Stock |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.07. Waiver of Covenants |
18 | |||
| ARTICLE 5 SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE |
18 | |||
| SECTION 5.01. Securityholder Lists |
18 | |||
| SECTION 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists |
18 | |||
| SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company |
19 | |||
| SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee |
19 | |||
| ARTICLE 6 REMEDIES |
20 | |||
| SECTION 6.01. Events of Default; Acceleration of Maturity |
20 | |||
| SECTION 6.02. Rescission and Annulment |
20 | |||
| SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
21 | |||
ii
| SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
21 | |||
| SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
22 | |||
| SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected |
22 | |||
| SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
24 | |||
| SECTION 6.12. Control by Securityholders |
24 | |||
| SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults |
24 | |||
| SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs |
25 | |||
| SECTION 6.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws |
25 | |||
| ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
25 | |||
| SECTION 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee |
25 | |||
| SECTION 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. |
26 | |||
| SECTION 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.04. Ownership of Securities |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.07. Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as Evidence |
28 | |||
| SECTION 7.08. Disqualifications; Conflicting Interest of Trustee |
28 | |||
| SECTION 7.09. Eligibility of Trustee |
28 | |||
| SECTION 7.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee |
29 | |||
| SECTION 7.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee |
29 | |||
| SECTION 7.12. Successor by Merger, etc. |
30 | |||
| SECTION 7.13. Limitations on Rights of Trustee as Creditor |
30 | |||
| SECTION 7.14. Notice of Default |
30 | |||
| SECTION 7.15. Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
31 | |||
| ARTICLE 8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.01. Action by Securityholders |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners |
33 | |||
| SECTION 8.04. Company-Owned Securities Disregarded |
33 | |||
| SECTION 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound |
33 | |||
| SECTION 8.06. Record Date |
33 | |||
| ARTICLE 9 SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.01. Purposes of Meeting |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders |
34 | |||
iii
| SECTION 9.04. Qualifications for Voting |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.05. Regulations |
35 | |||
| SECTION 9.06. Voting |
35 | |||
| ARTICLE 10 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
35 | |||
| SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders |
35 | |||
| SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders |
37 | |||
| SECTION 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
38 | |||
| SECTION 10.04. Notation on Securities |
38 | |||
| ARTICLE 11 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE |
38 | |||
| SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms |
38 | |||
| SECTION 11.02. Successor Corporation Substituted |
38 | |||
| SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to be Given Trustee |
39 | |||
| ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS |
39 | |||
| SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture |
39 | |||
| SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee |
39 | |||
| SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held |
40 | |||
| SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys |
40 | |||
| ARTICLE 13 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS |
40 | |||
| SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations |
40 | |||
| ARTICLE 14 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.02. Defeasance and Discharge |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.03. Covenant Defeasance |
41 | |||
| SECTION 14.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
41 | |||
| SECTION 14.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions |
42 | |||
| ARTICLE 15 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.01. Benefits of Indenture Restricted to Parties and Securityholders |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.02. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.03. Addresses for Notices, etc., to Company and Trustee |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.04. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.06. Legal Holidays |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.07. Trust Indenture Act to Control |
45 | |||
| SECTION 15.08. Execution in Counterparts |
45 | |||
| SECTION 15.09. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial |
45 | |||
| SECTION 15.10. Severability |
45 | |||
| SECTION 15.11. Interpretations |
46 | |||
| SECTION 15.12. Patriot Act |
46 | |||
| ARTICLE 16 RANKING OF SECURITIES |
46 | |||
| SECTION 16.01. Ranking |
46 | |||
iv
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Northwest Bancshares, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (the “Company”), and [ ], as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term shall include any successor trustee appointed pursuant to Article 7 of this Indenture).
WHEREAS, the Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its indebtedness and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Securities in one or more series, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Company represents that all acts and things necessary to constitute these presents a valid indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture has in all respects been duly authorized, and the Company, in the exercise of legal right and power in it vested, is executing this Indenture;
NOW, THEREFORE:
In order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are authenticated, issued and received, and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
The terms defined in this Section (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or that are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act shall have the meanings (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation. The words “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. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.
“Additional Amounts” shall mean any additional amounts to be paid by the Company in respect of Securities of a series, as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b) hereof and in such Security and under the circumstances specified therein, in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain holders who are United States Aliens.
“Authorized Officer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02 hereof.
“Board of Directors” or “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“Board Resolution” shall mean a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by a committee acting under authority of or appointment by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
1
“Business Day” shall mean, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b), any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in the City of New York, New York, or any Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.
“Capital Stock” shall mean, as to shares of a particular corporation, outstanding shares of stock of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, irrespective of whether such class shall be limited to a fixed sum or percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such corporation.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.
“Company” shall mean the person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.
“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary or Assistant Secretary or Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [ ], Attention: Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Administrator, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company).
“covenant defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.03.
“Default” or “default” shall have the meaning specified in Article 6.
“defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.02.
“Depositary” shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more permanent global Securities, the person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 2.03(b), which must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series.
“Dollar” or “$” shall mean a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Article 6.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.03 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
2
“holder,” “holder of Securities,” “securityholder” or other similar term shall mean in the case of any Registered Security, the person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register kept by the Company for that purpose, in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred or assumed after such date: (i) all obligations for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations evidenced by debentures, Securities or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers acceptances or similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), (iv) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business, (v) all indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is legally responsible or liable (whether by agreement to purchase indebtedness of, or to supply funds or to invest in, others) and (vi) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by the Company but excluding any obligations of the Company which are required (as opposed to elected to be treated) as capitalized leases under United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Indenture” shall mean this instrument as originally executed and delivered or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including without limitation, the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Article 2.
“Material Subsidiary” means Northwest Bank, or any successor thereof or any Subsidiary of the Company that is a depository institution and that has consolidated assets equal to 80% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets.
“Officers’ Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or other principal executive officer and by the Chief Financial Officer or other principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Controller of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion of Counsel” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company and who shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, or who may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Securities” shall mean any Securities that are initially sold at a discount from the principal amount thereof and that provide upon an Event of Default for declaration of an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration thereof.
“Outstanding” or “outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.08, Section 8.01 and Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated and held in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the holders of such Securities; provided, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article 3, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice;
(c) Securities that have been defeased pursuant to Section 14.02 hereof; and
3
(d) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.09, or Securities in exchange for, in lieu of and in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by bona fide holders in due course.
“Periodic Offering” shall mean an offering of Securities of a series, from time to time, the specific terms of which (including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the maturity date or dates thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto) are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.
“Person” or “person” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, 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 the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b).
“record date” as used with respect to any interest payment date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05.
“Registered Security” shall mean any Security established pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.03(b) that is registered on the Security Register of the Company.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, shall mean any officer within its Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee), including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also shall mean, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and in each case, who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Indenture.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.07(a) hereof.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Trust Indenture Act,” except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed.
“Trustee” shall mean the person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof until the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, and thereafter shall mean such successor trustee, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
4
“United States Alien” shall mean any person who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership to the extent that one or more of its members is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.
“USA PATRIOT Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.12 hereof.
“Vice President” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee shall mean any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after the title “vice president,” including any Executive or Senior Vice President.
“Voting Stock” means outstanding shares of Capital Stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power because of default in dividends or other default.
ARTICLE 2
ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
Upon the execution of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Securities up to the aggregate principal amount and containing terms and conditions from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto or Officers’ Certificate, as set forth in Section 2.03, may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery the Securities to or upon Company Order, without any further action by the Company but subject to the provisions of Section 2.03, or in an indenture supplemental hereto or Officers’ Certificate, as set forth in Section 2.03.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series that may be authenticated and delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is not limited hereunder. The Securities of a particular series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities for such series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters; provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be in substantially the following form:
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Dated: | [ ] | |||||
| as Trustee | ||||||
| By: |
| |||||
| Authorized Signatory | ||||||
SECTION 2.03. Form of Securities Generally; Establishment of Terms of Series.
(a) The Registered Securities, if any, of each series, the temporary global Securities of each series, if any, and the permanent global Securities of each series, if any, shall be in the forms established from time to time in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in one or more Board Resolutions, in an Officers’ Certificate (to which shall be attached true and correct copies of the relevant Board Resolution(s)) detailing such establishment) or established in an indenture supplemental hereto.
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The Securities may be issued in typewritten, printed or engraved form with such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation (including CUSIP numbers, if then generally in use) and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
(b) At or prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, the particular terms of Securities of such series shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in one or more Board Resolutions, in an Officers’ Certificate (to which shall be attached true and correct copies of the relevant Board Resolution(s)) detailing such establishment) or established in an indenture supplemental hereto, including the following:
(1) the designation of the particular series (which shall distinguish such series from all other series);
(2) the aggregate principal amount of such 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 this Indenture and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 2.06, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and, if so, the name of the Depositary with respect to any such temporary global Security, and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.07 and the name of the Depositary with respect to any such permanent global Security;
(4) the date as of which any temporary Security in global form representing Outstanding Securities of such series shall be dated, if other than the date of original issuance of the first Securities of the series to be issued;
(5) the person to whom any interest on any Registered 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, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.05 and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a permanent global Security on an interest payment date will be paid;
(6) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of such series is payable;
(7) the rate or rates, and if applicable the method used to determine the rate, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date or dates for the interest payable on any Registered Securities on any interest payment date;
(8) the place or places at which, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on Securities of such series shall be payable, any Registered 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;
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(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of such series, at the option of the Company or at the option of a holder thereof, pursuant to any sinking fund or other redemption provisions and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part;
(10) if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Registered Securities of such series shall be issuable;
(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(12) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the defmition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;
(13) if the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of the series are 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 or currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any 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;
(14) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(15) whether the Securities will be issued in book-entry only form;
(16) any interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such series;
(17) if either or both of Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 do not apply to the Securities of the series;
(18) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts in respect of any series of Securities and whether the Company has the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;
(19) any provisions relating to the extension of maturity of, or the renewal of, Securities of such series, or the conversion of Securities of such series into other securities of the Company;
(20) any provisions relating to the purchase or redemption of all or any portion of a tranche or series of Securities, including the period of notice required to redeem those Securities;
(21) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are secured;
(22) the subordination terms of the Securities of the series; and
(23) any other terms of the Securities or provisions relating to the payment of principal, premium (if any), or interest thereon, including, but not limited to, whether such Securities are issuable at a discount or premium, as amortizable Securities, and if payable in, convertible or exchangeable for commodities or for the securities of the Company or any third party.
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All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or as set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto, and, unless otherwise provided, the authorized principal amount of any series may be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such series. If so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above, the terms of such Securities to be issued from time to time may be determined as set forth in such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be. All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination, interest rate, maturity and other similar terms and except as may be provided otherwise by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
SECTION 2.04. Securities in Global Form.
If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 2.03(b) and the provisions of Section 2.05, any such Security in global form shall represent such of the Securities of such series Outstanding as shall be specified therein, and any such Security in global form may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Securities Outstanding from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Securities Outstanding represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect any exchanges of beneficial interests in such Security in global form for Securities of such series as contemplated herein. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any decrease in the amount, of Securities Outstanding represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such person or persons as shall be specified in such Security in global form or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.08. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 and, if applicable, Section 2.08, the Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the person or persons specified in such Security in global form or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.08 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be represented by a Company Order and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 2.06 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not be represented by a Company Order and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2.06.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the persons or persons specified therein.
SECTION 2.05. Denominations; Record Date; Payment of Interest.
(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.03(b) with respect to any series of Securities, any Registered Securities of a series shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000.
(b) The term “record date” as used with respect to an interest payment date for any series of a Registered Security shall mean such day or days as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b); provided, that in the absence of any such provisions with respect to any series, such term shall mean (1) the last day of the calendar month next preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the 15th day of a calendar month; or (2) the 15th day of a calendar month next preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the first day of the calendar month.
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Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.03 with respect to any series of Securities, the person in whose name any Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the record date with respect to an interest payment date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any registration of transfer or exchange thereof subsequent to such record date prior to such interest payment date; provided, that if and to the extent the Company shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date, such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Securities are registered on a subsequent record date established by notice given to the extent and in the manner set forth in Section 15.04 by or on behalf of the Company to the holders of Securities of the series in default not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date, such record date to be not less than five days preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest, or in any other lawful manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(c) Unless otherwise specified by Board Resolution or Company Order for a particular series of Securities, the principal of, redemption premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the Securities of any series shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 in a Place of Payment for such series, in Dollars; provided, that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest with respect to a Registered Security may be paid by check mailed to the holders of the Registered Securities entitled thereto at their last addresses as they appear on the Security Register or wired if held in book-entry form at the Depositary.
SECTION 2.06. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Securities.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. Such signatures may be the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of such then current officers.
Any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such officer. Securities bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, 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, as the case may be, or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to the incumbency and specimen signatures of officers authorized to execute and deliver the Securities and give instructions under this Section and, as long as Securities are Outstanding under this Indenture, such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever an officer is to be added or deleted from the listing. The Trustee may conclusively rely on the documents delivered pursuant to this Section (unless revoked by superseding comparable documents) and Section 2.03 hereof as to the authorization of the Board of Directors of any Securities delivered hereunder, and the form and terms thereof, and as to the authority of the instructing officers referred to in this Section so to act.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in an unlimited aggregate principal amount upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order; provided, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Company Order may be delivered to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount, if any, established for such series, pursuant to a Company Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures, and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
Prior to the issuance of a Security of any new series, and the authentication thereof by the Trustee, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on:
(a) The Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto establishing the terms and the form of the Securities of that series pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.03;
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(b) An Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance, authentication and delivery of Securities in such form have been complied with;
(c) An Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive such Opinion of Counsel only once at or prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series.
With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series unless and until such Opinion of Counsel or other documents have been superseded or revoked. In connection with the authentication and delivery of Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that the Company’s instructions to authenticate and deliver such Securities do not violate any rules, regulations or orders of any governmental agency or commission having jurisdiction over the Company.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication except as otherwise provided by Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such series set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 2.03, except as provided in Section 2.08.
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, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. 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 2.10 together with a written statement stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, 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 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities.
(a) The Company shall keep, at an office or agency to be designated and maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 4.02 (as such, a “Security Registrar”), registry books (the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register Registered Securities and shall register the transfer of Registered Securities of each such series as provided in this Article 2. Such Security Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times such Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of a particular series at such office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 for such purpose in a Place of Payment, the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series of any authorized denominations and for an equal aggregate principal amount and tenor.
(b) At the option of the holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of an equal aggregate principal amount and tenor. Registered Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at any such office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 for such purpose in a Place of Payment, and the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Security or Securities that the securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(c) 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.
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All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, redemption or payment, as the case may be, shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Security Registrar duly executed by, the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer 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 therewith, other than exchanges pursuant to the terms of this Indenture not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (1) to exchange or register the transfer of Securities of any series to be redeemed for a period of 15 days next preceding any selection of such Securities to be redeemed, or (2) to exchange or register the transfer of any Registered Security so selected, called or being called for redemption, except in the case of any such series to be redeemed in part the portion thereof not to be so redeemed.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee or the Security Registrar definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent global Security executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, in accordance with instructions given by the Company to the Trustee or the Security Registrar and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing), such permanent global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in accordance with such instructions, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of defmitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which shall be in the form of Registered Securities; provided, that no such exchanges may occur for a period of 15 days next preceding any selection of Securities of that series and of like tenor for redemption. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent global Security should be returned by the Trustee or the Security Registrar to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant interest payment date, or (ii) any special record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of defaulted interest as provided in Section 2.05, interest or defaulted interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(e) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the restrictions set forth in this Indenture, the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
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SECTION 2.08. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and make available for delivery, temporary Securities of such series (typewritten, printed, lithographed or otherwise produced). Such temporary Securities, in any authorized denominations, shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, in the form approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution but with such omissions, insertions, substitutions and other variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company, but not inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture or any provision of applicable law.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged as hereinafter provided), 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 4.02 in a Place of Payment for such series 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 make available for delivery in exchange therefor a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor of authorized denominations.
Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security of a series (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date such temporary global Security shall be presented and surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities of such series without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged.
Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery 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 (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) 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, subject to the following paragraph, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, 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.
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.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require 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 lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Security, if any, 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.
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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.
SECTION 2.10. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer or for credit against any sinking fund payment, as the case may be, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Company or of the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Registered Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, upon written request of the Company. The Company may 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 cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section except as expressly provided by this Indenture. Any cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed in accordance with its then customary procedures and, upon written request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a certificate of such disposal. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Only System.
If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 2.03(b) with respect to Securities represented by a Security in global form, a series of Securities may be issued initially in book-entry only form and, if issued in such form, shall be represented by one or more Securities in global form registered in the name of the Depositary or other depositary designated with respect thereto. So long as such system of registration is in effect, (a) Securities of such series so issued in book-entry only form will not be issuable in the form of or exchangeable for Securities in certificated or definitive registered form, (b) the records of the Depositary or such other depositary will be determinative for all purposes and (c) neither the Company, the Trustee nor any paying agent, Security Registrar or transfer agent for such Securities will have any responsibility or liability for (i) any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of owners of beneficial interests in the Securities of such series, (ii) maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests, (iii) receipt of notices, voting and requesting or directing the Trustee to take, or not to take, or consenting to, certain actions hereunder, or (iv) the records and procedures of the Depositary, or such other depositary, as the case may be.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 3.01. Redemption of Securities, Applicability of Section.
Redemption of Securities of any series as permitted or required by the terms thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities as specified pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Section, the provision of such series of Securities shall govern.
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SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption, Selection of Securities.
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, it shall fix a date for redemption. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company, or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The Company or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall give notice of such redemption, in the manner and to the extent set forth in Section 15.04, on that date prior to the date fixed for a redemption to the holders of such Securities so to be redeemed, as a whole or in part, (a) as set forth in Board Resolutions, as described in Section 2.03, or (b) as determined by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Executive Vice President, the Secretary and each officer of the Company designated by any of the foregoing officers (each, an “Authorized Officer”) and evidenced by the preparation of an offering document or an Officers’ Certificate specifying the period of notice of such redemption. If the Board Resolutions or an Authorized Officer do not specify a longer period of notice of such redemption, the Company or, at the written request of the Company, the Trustee, shall give notice of such redemption, in the manner and to the extent set forth in Section 15.04, at least ten Business Days and not more than 60 calendar days prior to the date fixed for a redemption to the holders of such Securities so to be redeemed as a whole or in part. Notice given in such manner shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the holder of any such Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security. If the Company requests the Trustee to give any notice of redemption, it shall make such request in writing in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least ten days prior to the designated date for delivering such notice, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price at which such Securities are to be redeemed, the CUSIP numbers of such Securities, the Place of Payment where such Securities maturing after the date of redemption, are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption prices, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in the notice, and that on and after the date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all of a series is to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of the same series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit in trust with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. If less than all of a series of Securities is to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee adequate written notice at least 45 days in advance (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner is it shall deem appropriate and fair, not more than 60 days prior to the date of redemption, the numbers of such Securities Outstanding not previously called for redemption, to be redeemed in whole or in part. The portion of principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of the Securities to be redeemed. If, however, less than all the Securities of a series having differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
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SECTION 3.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after that date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to that date) interest on such Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Securities subject to redemption at the Place of Payment and in the manner specified in such notice, such Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, that unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose stated maturity date is on or prior to the date of redemption shall be payable to the holders of such Registered Securities, or one or more predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 2.05.
At the option of the Company, payment with respect to Registered Securities may be made by check to the holders of such Securities or other persons entitled thereto against presentation and surrender of such Securities.
Any Security that 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 such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and upon such presentation, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so presented. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or permanent global Security, respectively.
SECTION 3.04. Redemption Suspended During Event of Default.
The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities (unless all Securities then outstanding are to be redeemed) or commence the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities during the continuance of any Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge or has received written notice thereof, except that where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities, provided funds are deposited with it for such purpose. Except as aforesaid, any moneys theretofore or thereafter received by the Trustee shall, during the continuance of such Event of Default, be held in trust for the benefit of the securityholders and applied in the manner set forth in Section 6.06; provided, that in case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided herein or otherwise cured, such moneys shall thereafter be held and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE 4
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on each of the Securities of a series at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 4.02. Offices for Notices and Payments.
If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for such series an office or agency 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 to the Trustee notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change in the location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency as required, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and surrenders of Securities of that series may be made and notices and demands may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective 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, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the holders of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby initially designates the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the office of the Company where Registered Securities may be presented for payment, for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities or of this Indenture may be served; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Company for service of legal process.
SECTION 4.03. Provisions as to Paying Agent.
(a) Whenever the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such 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 and will notify the Trustee of the receipt of sums to be so held;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that at any time when any such failure has occurred and is continuing, it will, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or any interest on the Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or any interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
(c) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to a series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on, any Securities, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or any interest, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
(d) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for such series by it or any paying agent hereunder as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained, 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.
(e) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 12.03 and Section 12.04.
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SECTION 4.04. Statement as to Compliance.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, commencing with the fiscal year ending in the year during which the first series of Securities is issued hereunder (but in no event more than one year from the issuance of the first series hereunder), an Officers’ Certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or other principal executive officer and by the Chief Financial Officer or other principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Controller of the Company, stating, as to each signer thereof, that:
(a) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his supervision; and
(b) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has fulfilled all its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.
SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence.
Subject to the provisions of Article 11, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises and the corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of its Subsidiaries; provided, that except as set forth in Section 4.06 below, the Company shall not be required to, or to cause any Subsidiary to, preserve any right or franchise or to keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of any Subsidiary if the Company shall determine that the keeping in existence or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in or consistent with the conduct of the business of the Company.
SECTION 4.06. Ownership of Material Subsidiary Stock.
Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1 and subject to the provisions of Article 11, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the Company:
(a) will not, nor will it permit the Material Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of, securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Voting Stock of the Material Subsidiary, nor will the Company permit the Material Subsidiary to issue any shares of, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Voting Stock of the Material Subsidiary if, in each case, after giving effect to any such transaction and to the issuance of the maximum number of shares of Voting Stock of the Material Subsidiary issuable upon the exercise of all such convertible securities, options, warrants or rights, the Company would cease to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Material Subsidiary; and
(b) will not permit the Material Subsidiary to:
(1) merge or consolidate with or into any corporation or other Person, unless the Company is the surviving corporation or Person, or unless, upon consummation of the merger or consolidation, the Company will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the surviving corporation’s issued and outstanding Voting Stock;
(2) lease, sell, assign or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (other than the Company), unless, upon such sale, assignment or transfer, the Company will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of that Person; or
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(3) pay any dividend in Voting Stock of a Material Subsidiary or make any other distribution in Voting Stock of a Material Subsidiary, unless the Material Subsidiary to which the transaction relates, after obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, unconditionally guarantees payment of the principal and any premium and interest on the Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such sale, assignment, pledge or transfer of securities, any such merger or consolidation or any such lease, sale, assignment, pledge or transfer of properties and assets shall not be prohibited if: (A) required by law, such lease, sale, assignment or transfer of securities is made to any Person for the purpose of the qualification of such Person to serve as a director; (B) such lease, sale, assignment or transfer of securities is made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting in a fiduciary capacity for any Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary; (C) made in connection with the consolidation of the Company with or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to, or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (as to which Article 11 of this Indenture shall apply); or (D) required as a condition imposed by any law or any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or authority to the acquisition by the Company, directly or indirectly, through purchase of stock or assets, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any Person; provided, that, in the case of (D) only, after giving effect to such disposition and acquisition, (y) at least 80% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of such Person will be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and (z) the consolidated assets of the Company will be at least equal to 70% of the consolidated assets of the Company prior thereto; and nothing in this Section 4.06 shall prohibit the Company or the Material Subsidiary from the sale or transfer of assets pursuant to any securitization transaction or the pledge of any assets to secure borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, deposit liabilities, mortgage escrow funds, reverse repurchase agreements, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, recourse obligations incurred in connection with the Material Subsidiary’s lending activities and letters of credit.
SECTION 4.07. Waiver of Covenants.
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth herein if before or after the time for such compliance the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series affected thereby then Outstanding shall either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE 5
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.01. Securityholder Lists.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (1) semiannually, within 15 days before each record date when any Securities of a series are Outstanding, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of all information in the possession or control of the Company as to the names and addresses of the holders of such Registered Securities as of such date, and (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 10 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of all information in the possession or control of the Company as to the names and addresses of the holders of Registered Securities of a particular series specified by the Trustee as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished; provided, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar with respect to such series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.
SECTION 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
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(b) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the sending of any material pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company covenants so long as Securities are Outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to holders, copies of such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided, that with respect to any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company intends to file such information, documents or reports with the Commission in electronic form in accordance with Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system. Compliance with the foregoing, or any successor electronic system approved by the Commission, will constitute delivery by the Company of such reports to the Trustee and holders in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee will have no duty to search for or obtain any electronic or other filings that the Company makes with the Commission, regardless of whether such filings are periodic, supplemental or otherwise. Delivery of the reports, information and documents to the Trustee in accordance with this Section 5.03 will be solely for the purposes of compliance with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents (whether or not filed in electronic form) is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such will not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, content or timelines of any report hereunder aside from any report transmitted under this Indenture.
SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after [ ] of each year commencing with the first [ ] following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01, so long as any Securities are outstanding hereunder and if there has been any change in the following, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first-class postage prepaid, to the securityholders, as their names appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such [ ] with respect to any of the events specified in Section 313(a) and Section 313(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act that may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding [ ] and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.
(c) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) Reports under this Section will be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Section 313(c) and Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
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ARTICLE 6
REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default; Acceleration of Maturity.
In case one or more of the following Events of Default with respect to a particular series shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) default in (i) the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise or (ii) any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series;
(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days;
(c) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company contained in the Securities or in this Indenture for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Material Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or for any substantial part of their respective property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
(e) the Company or the Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or the Material Subsidiary or for any substantial part of their respective property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series; then, if an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing, and in each and every such case, unless the principal amount of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders) may declare the principal amount of all the Securities (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; or, if an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e) shall have occurred and be continuing, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
SECTION 6.02. Rescission and Annulment
The provisions in Section 6.01 are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Securities of any one or more of all series, as the case may be, shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of such series or of all the Securities, as the case may be, and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of such series or of all the Securities, as the case may be (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities), which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at
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the same rate as the rate of interest specified in the Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, at the rate specified in the terms of such Securities for interest on overdue principal thereof upon maturity, redemption or acceleration of such series, as the case may be), to the date of such payment or deposit, and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or willful misconduct, and any and all defaults under the Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities that has become due by acceleration, shall have been remedied; then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to that series or with respect to all Securities, as the case may be in such case, treated as a single class and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the securityholders, as the case may be, shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the securityholders, as the case may be, shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 90 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal or premium, if any, of any Security at the maturity thereof, including any maturity occurring by reason of a call for redemption or otherwise, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the holders of such Securities, the whole amount that shall have become due and payable on such Securities for principal or premium, if any, and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate borne by 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.
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, and may prosecute such proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the 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 the Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the securityholders 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 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In the case of the pendency of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium, if any, and any interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the holders of Securities allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder of Securities to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the holders of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to 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 7.06. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, advances and other amounts out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, moneys, securities and other property which the holders of the Securities may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan or reorganization or arrangements or otherwise.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of the holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.05. 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, be for the ratable benefit of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected 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 on account of principal or premium, if any, or any interest, upon presentation of the Securities, as the case may be, 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 7.06 or 14.05;
SECOND: To the payment of all senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article 16;
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal of and premium, if any, and any 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 interest, respectively; and
FOURTH: To the Company or its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.
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SECTION 6.07. 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 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;
(2) the 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 to the Trustee indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceedings; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities; it being understood and intended that no one or more such holders of Securities 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 of Securities 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 such holders of Securities.
SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal 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 premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.05 and Section 3.02) any interest on such Security on the respective stated maturities 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 right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any holder of a Security 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 and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.
SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as provided in Section 2.09, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities 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.
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SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Default or any acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.12. Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of each 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, provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any statute, 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) the Trustee need not take any action which it in good faith determines might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the securityholders not consenting (provided, however, that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative obligation to determine whether such action is unduly prejudicial to the securityholders not consenting).
Upon receipt by the Trustee of any such direction with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a temporary global Security or a permanent global Security, the Trustee shall establish a record date for determining holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such direction. The holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such persons, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such holders remain holders after such record date, provided that, unless such majority in principal amount shall have been obtained prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such direction shall automatically and without further action by any holder be cancelled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a holder, or a proxy of a holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new direction identical to a direction which has been cancelled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.12.
SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all the Securities of that series, waive any past default hereunder and its consequences, except a default:
(a) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any interest on any Security; or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that pursuant to Article 10 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Security affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Default or 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.
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SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to 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, or to any suit instituted by any holder of any Securities for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any interest on any Security on or after the respective stated maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date, except, in the case of a partial redemption, with respect to the portion not so redeemed).
SECTION 6.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default of a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default of such series which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions 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 a particular series has occurred (which has not been cured), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(c) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred, the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to such series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(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 of Securities pursuant to Section 6.12 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.
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(d) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed as requiring the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, judgement, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties not only as the due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained herein. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company; and 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 and/or Opinion of Counsel;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the 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;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders of any Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) 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, coupon or other paper or documents, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may 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;
(f) 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;
(g) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(h) in no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, incidental, punitive 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;
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(i) in no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, strikes, pandemics, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, sabotage, epidemics, riots, nuclear or natural catastrophes, earthquakes, fires, floods, or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services, labor disputes, acts of civil or military authorities and governmental actions, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee will use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;
(j) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers hereunder;
(k) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and
(1) the permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, the Trustee shall not be answerable other than for its negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, provided that the Trustee shall not be relieved of its duty to authenticate Securities only as authorized by this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 7.04. Ownership of Securities.
The Trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, authenticating agent, paying agent, Security Registrar or such other agent of the Company or of the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held un-invested in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree in writing with the Company to pay thereon.
SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which to the extent permitted by law shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee forthwith upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent
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authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled to make and to be reimbursed for, advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, suit, liability or expense, (including attorney’s fees and expenses, and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured or determined by, the income of the Trustee)) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability, whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other person. The obligations of the Company under this Section shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
To secure the Company’s obligations under this Section, the Trustee shall have a senior claim to which the Securities are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.07. Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as Evidence.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate or opinion, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 7.08. Disqualifications; Conflicting Interest of Trustee.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.09. Eligibility of Trustee.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority, (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and (d) shall not be the Company or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law, or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation at any time shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
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SECTION 7.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series by giving written notice of resignation to the Company. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the applicable series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee at the expense of the Company. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 7.08 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such securityholder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, 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, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.14, any securityholder of such series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series 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 and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) Upon 30 days’ prior written notice, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series (voting as one class) at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of all series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of all series.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and any appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon the appointment of a successor trustee and the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
SECTION 7.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the predecessor trustee shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the predecessor trustee. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing in order more fully and certainly to vest in and confirm to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee, including the initial Trustee, ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.
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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 predecessor Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and 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 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.
No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under the provisions of this Article 7.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to all holders of Securities of any applicable series as the names and addresses of such holders shall appear on the registry books. If the Company fails to mail such notice in the prescribed manner within ten days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be so mailed at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.12. Successor by Merger, etc.
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 of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be qualified and eligible under the provisions of this Article 7, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any 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 may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.13. Limitations on Rights of Trustee as Creditor.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
SECTION 7.14. Notice of Default.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default on a series of Securities hereunder of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received notice or is deemed to have notice in accordance with this Section 7.14, the Trustee shall transmit to all securityholders of that series, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 15.04, notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security or on the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the securityholders; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in clause (c) of Section 6.01 no such notice to securityholders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. The Trustee will not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default, except failure by the Company to pay or cause to be made any of the payments required to be made to the Trustee, unless a Responsible Officer shall receive written notice of such
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default or Event of Default from the Company or by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities delivered to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice states that it is a notice of a default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities and this Indenture, and in the absence of such notice so delivered the Trustee may conclusively assume no default or Event of Default exists. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
SECTION 7.15. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent or agents (which may be an affiliate or affiliates of the Company) 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 or upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 2.09, 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 or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers or to otherwise act as authenticating agent, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority, and (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000. 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 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.
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 and shall promptly give notice of such appointment to all holders of Securities in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 15.04. 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.
The Company agrees to pay to each authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation 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.
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| [ ], as Trustee | ||
| By: [ ], as Authenticating Agent | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Date: | ||
| Date: | ||
If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing, shall appoint in accordance with this Section an authenticating agent (which, if so requested by the Company, shall be such affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities, provided that the terms and conditions of such appointment are acceptable to the Trustee.
ARTICLE 8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.01. Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any authorization, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of securityholders.
In determining whether the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series have taken any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), (i) the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that could be declared to be due and payable upon an Event of Default pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security at the time the taking of such of such action is evidenced to the Trustee, and (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date of original issuance of such Security in accordance with Section 2.03(b) hereof, of the principal amount of such Security.
SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a securityholder or its agent or proxy, or of the holding by any person of a Security, shall be sufficient and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.
The principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
The record of any securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.
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SECTION 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may deem the person in whose name such Registered Security shall be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Registered Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon), for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.05 and Section 2.07, any interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Security.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any temporary or permanent global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or of the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary, or impair, as between a Depositary and holders of beneficial interests in any temporary or permanent global Security, as the case may be, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary as holder of such temporary or permanent global Security.
SECTION 8.04. Company-Owned Securities Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Securities have provided any request, demand, authorization, notice, direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Securities and that the pledgee is not a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound.
At any time prior to the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security, the identifying number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action, may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security and of any Security issued upon registration of transfer of or in exchange or substitution therefor in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities.
SECTION 8.06. Record Date.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of holders of Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent or to otherwise take any action under this Indenture authorized or permitted by Section 6.12 and Section 6.13 or otherwise under this Indenture. Such record date shall be the later of (i) the date 20 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or other action and (ii) the date of the most recent list of holders of such Securities delivered to the principal
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corporate trust office of the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 prior to such solicitation. If such a record date is fixed, those persons who were holders of such Securities at the close of business on such record date shall be entitled to vote or consent or take such other action, or to revoke any such action, whether or not such persons continue to be holders after such record date, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date.
ARTICLE 9
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
SECTION 9.01. Purposes of Meeting.
A meeting of holders of any or all series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to waive any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 6;
(b) to remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee.
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of securityholders of any or all series to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place in New York, New York or as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the securityholders of any or all series, setting forth the time and place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given in the manner provided in Section 15.04 not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
SECTION 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.
In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, then Outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of securityholders of any or all series to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have provided notice of such meeting in the manner provided in Section 15.04 within 30 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or the holders of such Securities in the amount above specified may determine the time and the place in New York, New York for such meeting and may call such meeting by giving notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.04. Qualifications for Voting.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of securityholders a person shall be a holder of one or more Securities of such series Outstanding with respect to which a meeting is being held or a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by such a holder or holders. The only persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of the securityholders of any series shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
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SECTION 9.05. Regulations.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of securityholders of a series, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it deems fit. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Article 8 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Article 8. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Article 8 or other proof.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities represented at the meeting and entitled to vote.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and Section 8.04, at any meeting each securityholder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof in connection with Securities issued in a foreign currency or currency unit) Outstanding principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote except as a securityholder or proxy. Any meeting of securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time, and the meeting may be reconvened without further notice.
SECTION 9.06. Voting.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of securityholders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the securityholders or proxies and on which shall be inscribed the identifying number or numbers or to which shall be attached a list of identifying numbers of the Securities held or represented by them. The chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to the record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that the notice was mailed as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall be signed and verified by the chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
ARTICLE 10
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.
Without the consent of any holders of Securities, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, pursuant to Article 11 hereof, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities;
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(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as its Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth, with such period of grace, if any, and subject to such conditions as such supplemental indenture may provide;
(c) to establish any series of Securities and the form or terms of securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 2.03, including, without limitation, any subordination provisions and any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, and any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection therewith (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding);
(d) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture);
(e) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article 14, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any holder of a Security of such series or any other Security in any material respect;
(f) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities, registrable or not registrable as to principal;
(g) to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of holders of Securities of any series;
(h) in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for commodities or for the securities of the Company to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding securities or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Company with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 2.03;
(i) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations or restrictions on issue, authentication and delivery of Securities of any series;
(j) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or under any similar federal statute hereafter enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;
(k) to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination (i) shall become effective only when there is no Security of any series Outstanding and created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision or (ii) shall not apply to any Security Outstanding;
(l) (1) to conform the Indenture or the Securities to the description thereof in the related prospectus, offering memorandum or disclosure document (as provided in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee);
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(m) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or in any supplemental indenture;
(n) to add guarantees with respect to, or to secure, any series of Security;
(o) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add or change any provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to Section 7.11; and
(p) to make any change to the Securities of any series or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture that do not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any holder of Securities of any series issued under this Indenture, including provisions necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee 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. No supplemental indenture shall be effective as against the Trustee unless and until the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the same.
SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected, (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all Securities then Outstanding, (c) modify the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of such Securities, or (d) modify any of the above provisions.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the securityholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10, the Company shall provide notice, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 15.04, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to all holders of Securities of each series so affected. Any failure of the Company so to provide such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
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SECTION 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 and subject to the provisions in any supplemental indenture relating to the prospective application of such instrument, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02, shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of this Article 10 and that all conditions precedent thereto have been satisfied.
SECTION 10.04. Notation on Securities.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 may bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. New Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered, without charge to the securityholders, in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding.
ARTICLE 11
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
The Company covenants that it will not merge into or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any person, firm or corporation, unless (a) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than the Company) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such corporation, and (b) the Company or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.
SECTION 11.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall make available for delivery any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All of the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution thereof.
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In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to be Given Trustee.
The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article 11 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
ARTICLE 12
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time:
(a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated (other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.09, and (ii) 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 4.03), or
(b) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) shall have become due and payable, or (ii) are by their terms to become due and payable 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, and the Company in the case of (b)(i), (b)(ii) or (b)(iii) above shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Company in accordance with Section 12.04) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of such series not therefore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and any interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of and at the cost and expense of the Company and subject to Section 15.05, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities of such series. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series or of all series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel which together shall state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of clause (e) of Section 4.03, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 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 the persons entitled thereto, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest (and premium, if any) for which payment of such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
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SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series and the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, all moneys with respect to such Securities then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.
Subject to applicable law, any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal (and premium, if any, on) or interest shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent upon written request from the Company, and the holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.
ARTICLE 13
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the holders thereof and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE 14
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article.
Unless, as specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b), provision is made that either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.02 and (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.03 shall not apply to the Securities of a series, then the provisions of such Section 14.02 and Section 14.03, together with Section 14.04 and Section 14.05, shall be applicable to the Outstanding Securities of all series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 14.
SECTION 14.02. Defeasance and Discharge.
Subject to Section 14.05, the Company may cause itself to be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied but subject to satisfaction of the conditions subsequent set forth below (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 4.02
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and Section 4.03 and such obligations as shall be ancillary thereto, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder, and (D) this Article 14. Subject to compliance with this Article 14, defeasance with respect to Securities of a series by the Company is permitted under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its rights under Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of such series. Following a defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
SECTION 14.03. Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may cause itself to be released from its obligations under any Sections applicable to Securities of a series that are determined pursuant to Section 2.03(b) to be subject to this provision with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied but subject to satisfaction of the conditions subsequent set forth below (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding 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 any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 14.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions precedent or, as specifically noted below, subsequent to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Outstanding Securities of such series:
(a) The Company shall irrevocably have 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 the holders of such Securities, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (1) the principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the due dates thereof. Before such a deposit the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article 3 which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, “U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a) (2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt;
(b) No default, or event that after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default with respect to the Securities of such series, shall have happened and be continuing (i) on the date of such deposit or (ii) insofar as Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this clause (b) is a condition subsequent and shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);
41
(c) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (i) cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 7.08 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or (ii) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(d) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(e) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted;
(f) In the case of a defeasance under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;
(g) In the case of covenant defeasance under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(h) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 2.03(b); and
(i) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent and subsequent provided for in this Indenture relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03, as the case may be, have been complied with.
SECTION 14.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (but not including the Company acting as its own paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, provided that the Trustee shall not be required to liquidate any U.S. Government Obligations in order to comply with the provisions of this paragraph.
42
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if and to the extent the deposited money or U.S. Government Obligations (or the proceeds thereof) either (i) cannot be applied by the Trustee in accordance with this Section because of a court order or by operation of Article 16 or (ii) are for any reason insufficient in amount, then the Company’s obligations to pay principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series shall be reinstated to the extent necessary to cover the deficiency on any due date for payment. In any such case, the Company’s interest in the deposited money and U.S. Government Obligations (and proceeds thereof) shall be reinstated to the extent the Company’s payment obligations are reinstated.
ARTICLE 15
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 15.01. Benefits of Indenture Restricted to Parties and Securityholders.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article 16, the holders of senior Indebtedness), any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article 16, the holders of senior Indebtedness).
SECTION 15.02. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 15.03. Addresses for Notices, etc., to Company and Trustee.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or delivered by first-class postage prepaid mail, facsimile, email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:
(1) If to the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, [ ], Attention: Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Administrator, Telephone: [ ].
(2) If to the Company by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities, addressed to it at 100 Liberty Street, Warren, Pennsylvania 16365, Attention: [ ], Email: [ ].
The Company or the Trustee by written notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications will be deemed to have been duly given: five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if delivered by mail; on the first Business Day after being sent, if sent by facsimile and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; upon confirmation of transmittal (but excluding any automatic reply to such email), if sent by email; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
SECTION 15.04. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at the address of such holder as it appears in the Security Register, not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
43
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to holders of Registered Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such holders for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Registered Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given when delivered to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.
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 of Securities 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.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language.
SECTION 15.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Each Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) 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; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 15.06. Legal Holidays.
In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities or the date fixed for redemption of any Securities shall be a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday in City of New York, New York or in such other Place of Payment as the Company may designate pursuant to Section 4.02, or a day on which banking institutions in City of New York, New York or in such other Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.
44
SECTION 15.07. Trust Indenture Act to Control.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
SECTION 15.08. Execution in Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) will be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Unless otherwise provided herein or in any other Securities, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any other Securities or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by such Trustee.
SECTION 15.09. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
The parties hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.
SECTION 15.10. Severability.
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.
The Trustee, by its execution of this Indenture, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth. This Indenture, any supplemental indenture hereto and the exhibits hereto or thereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.
45
SECTION 15.11. Interpretations.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 15.12. Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.
ARTICLE 16
RANKING OF SECURITIES
SECTION 16.01. Ranking.
Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 2.01, the Company agrees, and each holder by accepting a Security agrees, that the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities constitutes and will constitute a senior unsecured general obligation of the Company, ranking equally with other existing and future senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Company, ranking equally with other existing and future senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Company and ranking senior in right of payment to any future Indebtedness of the Company that is expressly made subordinate to the Securities by the terms of such Indebtedness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
| NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| [ ] | ||
| [Title] | ||
| [ ], as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| [ ] | ||
| [Title] | ||
46
Exhibit 4.8
NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.,
AS ISSUER
AND
[ ],
AS TRUSTEE
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
DATED AS OF [ ], 20[ 1
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ].
| SECTION OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT | SECTION OF INDENTURE | |
| 310(a)(1) and (2) | 7.09 | |
| 310(a)(3) and (4) | Not applicable | |
| 310(a)(5) | 7.09 | |
| 310(b) | 7.08 and 7.10 | |
| 311(a) and (b) | 7.13 | |
| 312(a) | 5.01 and 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) and (c) | 5.02(b) and (c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b)(1) | Not applicable | |
| 313(b)(2) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(c) | |
| 313(d) | 5.04(d) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03 | |
| 314(b) | Not applicable | |
| 314(c)(1) and (2) | 14.04 | |
| 314(c)(3) | Not applicable | |
| 314(d) | Not applicable | |
| 314(e) | 15.05 | |
| 314(f) | Not applicable | |
| 315(a), (c) and (d) | 7.01 | |
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(e) | 6.14 | |
| 316(a)(1) | 6.12 | |
| 316(a)(2) | Omitted | |
| 316(a) last sentence | 8.04 | |
| 316(b) | 6.08 | |
| 316(c) | 8.06 | |
| 317(a) | 6.03 and 6.04 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03(a) | |
| 318(a) | 15.07 | |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including Section 317 of the Trust Indenture Act are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page(s) | ||||
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
| SECTION 1.01. Definitions |
1 | |||
| ARTICLE 2 ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.03. Form of Securities Generally; Establishment of Terms of Series |
5 | |||
| SECTION 2.04. Securities in Global Form |
8 | |||
| SECTION 2.05. Denominations; Record Date; Payment of Interest |
8 | |||
| SECTION 2.06. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Securities |
9 | |||
| SECTION 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities |
10 | |||
| SECTION 2.08. Temporary Securities |
12 | |||
| SECTION 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities |
12 | |||
| SECTION 2.10. Cancellation |
13 | |||
| SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Only System |
13 | |||
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
13 | |||
| SECTION 3.01. Redemption of Securities, Applicability of Section |
13 | |||
| SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption, Selection of Securities |
14 | |||
| SECTION 3.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption |
15 | |||
| SECTION 3.04. Redemption Suspended During Event of Default |
15 | |||
| ARTICLE 4 PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.02. Offices for Notices and Payments |
15 | |||
| SECTION 4.03. Provisions as to Paying Agent |
16 | |||
| SECTION 4.04. Statement as to Compliance |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.06. Reserved |
17 | |||
| SECTION 4.07. Waiver of Covenants |
17 | |||
| ARTICLE 5 SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE |
17 | |||
| SECTION 5.01. Securityholder Lists |
17 | |||
| SECTION 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists |
18 | |||
| SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company |
18 | |||
| SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee |
18 | |||
| ARTICLE 6 REMEDIES |
19 | |||
| SECTION 6.01. Events of Default; Acceleration of Maturity |
19 | |||
| SECTION 6.02. Rescission and Annulment |
20 | |||
| SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
20 | |||
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| SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
21 | |||
| SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
21 | |||
| SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected |
21 | |||
| SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits |
22 | |||
| SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal and Interest |
22 | |||
| SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
22 | |||
| SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.12. Control by Securityholders |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults |
23 | |||
| SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs |
24 | |||
| SECTION 6.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws |
24 | |||
| ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
24 | |||
| SECTION 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee |
24 | |||
| SECTION 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. |
25 | |||
| SECTION 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. |
26 | |||
| SECTION 7.04. Ownership of Securities |
26 | |||
| SECTION 7.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust |
26 | |||
| SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.07. Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as Evidence |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.08. Disqualifications; Conflicting Interest of Trustee |
27 | |||
| SECTION 7.09. Eligibility of Trustee |
28 | |||
| SECTION 7.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee |
28 | |||
| SECTION 7.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee |
29 | |||
| SECTION 7.12. Successor by Merger, etc. |
29 | |||
| SECTION 7.13. Limitations on Rights of Trustee as Creditor |
29 | |||
| SECTION 7.14. Notice of Default |
30 | |||
| SECTION 7.15. Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
30 | |||
| ARTICLE 8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS |
31 | |||
| SECTION 8.01. Action by Securityholders |
31 | |||
| SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.04. Company-Owned Securities Disregarded |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound |
32 | |||
| SECTION 8.06. Record Date |
33 | |||
| ARTICLE 9 SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS |
33 | |||
| SECTION 9.01. Purposes of Meeting |
33 | |||
| SECTION 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee |
33 | |||
| SECTION 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders |
33 | |||
iii
| SECTION 9.04. Qualifications for Voting |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.05. Regulations |
34 | |||
| SECTION 9.06. Voting |
34 | |||
| ARTICLE 10 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
35 | |||
| SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders |
35 | |||
| SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders |
36 | |||
| SECTION 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
37 | |||
| SECTION 10.04. Notation on Securities |
37 | |||
| ARTICLE 11 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE |
37 | |||
| SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms |
37 | |||
| SECTION 11.02. Successor Corporation Substituted |
38 | |||
| SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to be Given Trustee |
38 | |||
| ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS |
38 | |||
| SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture |
38 | |||
| SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee |
39 | |||
| SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held |
39 | |||
| SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys |
39 | |||
| ARTICLE 13 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS |
39 | |||
| SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations |
39 | |||
| ARTICLE 14 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
39 | |||
| SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article |
39 | |||
| SECTION 14.02. Defeasance and Discharge |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.03. Covenant Defeasance |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
40 | |||
| SECTION 14.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions |
41 | |||
| ARTICLE 15 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
42 | |||
| SECTION 15.01. Benefits of Indenture Restricted to Parties and Securityholders |
42 | |||
| SECTION 15.02. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors |
42 | |||
| SECTION 15.03. Addresses for Notices, etc., to Company and Trustee |
42 | |||
| SECTION 15.04. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent |
43 | |||
| SECTION 15.06. Legal Holidays |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.07. Trust Indenture Act to Control |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.08. Execution in Counterparts |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.09. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial |
44 | |||
| SECTION 15.10. Severability |
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| SECTION 15.11. Interpretations |
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| SECTION 15.12. Patriot Act |
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| ARTICLE 16 SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES |
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| SECTION 16.01. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness |
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Northwest Bancshares, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (the “Company”), and [ ], as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term shall include any successor trustee appointed pursuant to Article 7 of this Indenture).
WHEREAS, the Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its indebtedness and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Securities in one or more series, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Company represents that all acts and things necessary to constitute these presents a valid indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture has in all respects been duly authorized, and the Company, in the exercise of legal right and power in it vested, is executing this Indenture;
NOW, THEREFORE:
In order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are authenticated, issued and received, and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
The terms defined in this Section (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or that are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act shall have the meanings (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation. The words “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. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.
“Additional Amounts” shall mean any additional amounts to be paid by the Company in respect of Securities of a series, as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b) hereof and in such Security and under the circumstances specified therein, in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain holders who are United States Aliens.
“Authorized Officer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02 hereof.
“Board of Directors” or “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“Board Resolution” shall mean a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by a committee acting under authority of or appointment by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
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“Business Day” shall mean, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b), any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in the City of New York, New York, or any Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.
“Capital Stock” shall mean, as to shares of a particular corporation, outstanding shares of stock of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, irrespective of whether such class shall be limited to a fixed sum or percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such corporation.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.
“Company” shall mean the person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.
“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary or Assistant Secretary or Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [ ], Attention: Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Administrator, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company).
“covenant defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.03.
“Default” or “default” shall have the meaning specified in Article 6.
“defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.02.
“Depositary” shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more permanent global Securities, the person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 2.03(b), which must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series.
“Dollar” or “$” shall mean a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Article 6.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.03 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
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“holder,” “holder of Securities,” “securityholder” or other similar term shall mean in the case of any Registered Security, the person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register kept by the Company for that purpose, in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Indenture” shall mean this instrument as originally executed and delivered or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including without limitation, the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Article 2.
“Material Subsidiary” means Northwest Bank, or any successor thereof or any Subsidiary of the Company that is a depository institution and that has consolidated assets equal to 80% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets.
“Officers’ Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or other principal executive officer and by the Chief Financial Officer or other principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Controller of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion of Counsel” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company and who shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, or who may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Securities” shall mean any Securities that are initially sold at a discount from the principal amount thereof and that provide upon an Event of Default for declaration of an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration thereof.
“Outstanding” or “outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.08, Section 8.01 and Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated and held in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the holders of such Securities; provided, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article 3, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice;
(c) Securities that have been defeased pursuant to Section 14.02 hereof; and
(d) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.09, or Securities in exchange for, in lieu of and in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by bona fide holders in due course.
“Periodic Offering” shall mean an offering of Securities of a series, from time to time, the specific terms of which (including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the maturity date or dates thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto) are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.
“Person” or “person” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
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“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b).
“record date” as used with respect to any interest payment date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05.
“Registered Security” shall mean any Security established pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.03(b) that is registered on the Security Register of the Company.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, shall mean any officer within Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee), including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also shall mean, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and in each case, who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Indenture.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.07(a) hereof.
“Senior Indebtedness” means, without duplication, the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred or assumed after such date: (i) all obligations for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations evidenced by debentures, Securities or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations in respect of letters of credit or bankers acceptances or similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), (iv) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business, (v) all indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is legally responsible or liable (whether by agreement to purchase indebtedness of, or to supply funds or to invest in, others) and (vi) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by the Company but excluding any obligations of the Company which are required (as opposed to elected to be treated) as capitalized leases under United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Trust Indenture Act,” except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed.
“Trustee” shall mean the person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof until the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, and thereafter shall mean such successor trustee, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
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“United States Alien” shall mean any person who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership to the extent that one or more of its members is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.
“USA PATRIOT Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.12 hereof.
“Vice President” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee shall mean any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after the title “vice president,” including any Executive or Senior Vice President.
ARTICLE 2
ISSUE, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
Upon the execution of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Securities up to the aggregate principal amount and containing terms and conditions from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto or Officers’ Certificate, as set forth in Section 2.03, may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery the Securities to or upon Company Order, without any further action by the Company but subject to the provisions of Section 2.03, or in an indenture supplemental hereto or Officers’ Certificate, as set forth in Section 2.03.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series that may be authenticated and delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is not limited hereunder. The Securities of a particular series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities for such series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters; provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be in substantially the following form:
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Dated: | [ ] | |||||
| as Trustee | ||||||
| By: |
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| Authorized Signatory | ||||||
SECTION 2.03. Form of Securities Generally; Establishment of Terms of Series.
(a) The Registered Securities, if any, of each series, the temporary global Securities of each series, if any, and the permanent global Securities of each series, if any, shall be in the forms established from time to time in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in one or more Board Resolutions, in an Officers’ Certificate (to which shall be attached true and correct copies of the relevant Board Resolution(s)) detailing such establishment) or established in an indenture supplemental hereto.
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The Securities may be issued in typewritten, printed or engraved form with such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation (including CUSIP numbers, if then generally in use) and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
(b) At or prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, the particular terms of Securities of such series shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in one or more Board Resolutions, in an Officers’ Certificate (to which shall be attached true and correct copies of the relevant Board Resolution(s)) detailing such establishment) or established in an indenture supplemental hereto, including the following:
(1) the designation of the particular series (which shall distinguish such series from all other series);
(2) the aggregate principal amount of such 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 this Indenture and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 2.06, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and, if so, the name of the Depositary with respect to any such temporary global Security, and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.07 and the name of the Depositary with respect to any such permanent global Security;
(4) the date as of which any temporary Security in global form representing Outstanding Securities of such series shall be dated, if other than the date of original issuance of the first Securities of the series to be issued;
(5) the person to whom any interest on any Registered 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, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.05 and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a permanent global Security on an interest payment date will be paid;
(6) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of such series is payable;
(7) the rate or rates, and if applicable the method used to determine the rate, at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date or dates for the interest payable on any Registered Securities on any interest payment date;
(8) the place or places at which, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on Securities of such series shall be payable, any Registered 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;
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(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of such series, at the option of the Company or at the option of a holder thereof, pursuant to any sinking fund or other redemption provisions and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part;
(10) if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Registered Securities of such series shall be issuable;
(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(12) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the defmition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;
(13) if the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of the series are 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 or currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any 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;
(14) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(15) whether the Securities will be issued in book-entry only form;
(16) any interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such series;
(17) if either or both of Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 do not apply to the Securities of the series;
(18) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts in respect of any series of Securities and whether the Company has the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;
(19) any provisions relating to the extension of maturity of, or the renewal of, Securities of such series, or the conversion of Securities of such series into other securities of the Company;
(20) any provisions relating to the purchase or redemption of all or any portion of a tranche or series of Securities, including the period of notice required to redeem those Securities;
(21) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are secured;
(22) the subordination terms of the Securities of the series; and
(23) any other terms of the Securities or provisions relating to the payment of principal, premium (if any), or interest thereon, including, but not limited to, whether such Securities are issuable at a discount or premium, as amortizable Securities, and if payable in, convertible or exchangeable for commodities or for the securities of the Company or any third party.
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All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or as set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto, and, unless otherwise provided, the authorized principal amount of any series may be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such series. If so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above, the terms of such Securities to be issued from time to time may be determined as set forth in such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be. All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination, interest rate, maturity and other similar terms and except as may be provided otherwise by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
SECTION 2.04. Securities in Global Form.
If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 2.03(b) and the provisions of Section 2.05, any such Security in global form shall represent such of the Securities of such series Outstanding as shall be specified therein, and any such Security in global form may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Securities Outstanding from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Securities Outstanding represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect any exchanges of beneficial interests in such Security in global form for Securities of such series as contemplated herein. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any decrease in the amount, of Securities Outstanding represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such person or persons as shall be specified in such Security in global form or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.08. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 and, if applicable, Section 2.08, the Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the person or persons specified in such Security in global form or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.08 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be represented by a Company Order and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 2.06 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not be represented by a Company Order and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2.06.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the persons or persons specified therein.
SECTION 2.05. Denominations; Record Date; Payment of Interest.
(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.03(b) with respect to any series of Securities, any Registered Securities of a series shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000.
(b) The term “record date” as used with respect to an interest payment date for any series of a Registered Security shall mean such day or days as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b); provided, that in the absence of any such provisions with respect to any series, such term shall mean (1) the last day of the calendar month next preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the 15th day of a calendar month; or (2) the 15th day of a calendar month next preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the first day of the calendar month.
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Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.03 with respect to any series of Securities, the person in whose name any Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the record date with respect to an interest payment date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any registration of transfer or exchange thereof subsequent to such record date prior to such interest payment date; provided, that if and to the extent the Company shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date, such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Securities are registered on a subsequent record date established by notice given to the extent and in the manner set forth in Section 15.04 by or on behalf of the Company to the holders of Securities of the series in default not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date, such record date to be not less than five days preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest, or in any other lawful manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(c) Unless otherwise specified by Board Resolution or Company Order for a particular series of Securities, the principal of, redemption premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the Securities of any series shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 in a Place of Payment for such series, in Dollars; provided, that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest with respect to a Registered Security may be paid by check mailed to the holders of the Registered Securities entitled thereto at their last addresses as they appear on the Security Register or wired if held in book-entry form at the Depositary.
SECTION 2.06. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Securities.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. Such signatures may be the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of such then current officers.
Any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such officer. Securities bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, 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, as the case may be, or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to the incumbency and specimen signatures of officers authorized to execute and deliver the Securities and give instructions under this Section and, as long as Securities are Outstanding under this Indenture, such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever an officer is to be added or deleted from the listing. The Trustee may conclusively rely on the documents delivered pursuant to this Section (unless revoked by superseding comparable documents) and Section 2.03 hereof as to the authorization of the Board of Directors of any Securities delivered hereunder, and the form and terms thereof, and as to the authority of the instructing officers referred to in this Section so to act.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in an unlimited aggregate principal amount upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order; provided, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Company Order may be delivered to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount, if any, established for such series, pursuant to a Company Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures, and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
Prior to the issuance of a Security of any new series, and the authentication thereof by the Trustee, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on:
(a) The Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto establishing the terms and the form of the Securities of that series pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.03;
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(b) An Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance, authentication and delivery of Securities in such form have been complied with;
(c) An Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive such Opinion of Counsel only once at or prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series.
With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series unless and until such Opinion of Counsel or other documents have been superseded or revoked. In connection with the authentication and delivery of Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that the Company’s instructions to authenticate and deliver such Securities do not violate any rules, regulations or orders of any governmental agency or commission having jurisdiction over the Company.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication except as otherwise provided by Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such series set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 2.03, except as provided in Section 2.08.
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, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. 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 2.10 together with a written statement stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, 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 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities.
(a) The Company shall keep, at an office or agency to be designated and maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 4.02 (as such, a “Security Registrar”), registry books (the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register Registered Securities and shall register the transfer of Registered Securities of each such series as provided in this Article 2. Such Security Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times such Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of a particular series at such office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 for such purpose in a Place of Payment, the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series of any authorized denominations and for an equal aggregate principal amount and tenor.
(b) At the option of the holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of an equal aggregate principal amount and tenor. Registered Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at any such office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 for such purpose in a Place of Payment, and the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Security or Securities that the securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(c) 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.
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All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, redemption or payment, as the case may be, shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Security Registrar duly executed by, the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer 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 therewith, other than exchanges pursuant to the terms of this Indenture not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (1) to exchange or register the transfer of Securities of any series to be redeemed for a period of 15 days next preceding any selection of such Securities to be redeemed, or (2) to exchange or register the transfer of any Registered Security so selected, called or being called for redemption, except in the case of any such series to be redeemed in part the portion thereof not to be so redeemed.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(b), then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee or the Security Registrar definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent global Security executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, in accordance with instructions given by the Company to the Trustee or the Security Registrar and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing), such permanent global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in accordance with such instructions, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which shall be in the form of Registered Securities; provided, that no such exchanges may occur for a period of 15 days next preceding any selection of Securities of that series and of like tenor for redemption. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent global Security should be returned by the Trustee or the Security Registrar to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant interest payment date, or (ii) any special record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of defaulted interest as provided in Section 2.05, interest or defaulted interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(e) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the restrictions set forth in this Indenture, the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
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SECTION 2.08. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and make available for delivery, temporary Securities of such series (typewritten, printed, lithographed or otherwise produced). Such temporary Securities, in any authorized denominations, shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, in the form approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution but with such omissions, insertions, substitutions and other variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company, but not inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture or any provision of applicable law.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged as hereinafter provided), 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 4.02 in a Place of Payment for such series 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 make available for delivery in exchange therefor a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor of authorized denominations.
Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security of a series (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date such temporary global Security shall be presented and surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities of such series without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged.
Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.09. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery 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 (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) 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, subject to the following paragraph, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, 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.
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.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require 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 lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Security, if any, 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.
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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.
SECTION 2.10. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer or for credit against any sinking fund payment, as the case may be, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Company or of the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Registered Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, upon written request of the Company. The Company may 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 cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section except as expressly provided by this Indenture. Any cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed in accordance with its then customary procedures and, upon written request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a certificate of such disposal. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Only System.
If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 2.03(b) with respect to Securities represented by a Security in global form, a series of Securities may be issued initially in book-entry only form and, if issued in such form, shall be represented by one or more Securities in global form registered in the name of the Depositary or other depositary designated with respect thereto. So long as such system of registration is in effect, (a) Securities of such series so issued in book-entry only form will not be issuable in the form of or exchangeable for Securities in certificated or definitive registered form, (b) the records of the Depositary or such other depositary will be determinative for all purposes and (c) neither the Company, the Trustee nor any paying agent, Security Registrar or transfer agent for such Securities will have any responsibility or liability for (i) any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of owners of beneficial interests in the Securities of such series, (ii) maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests, (iii) receipt of notices, voting and requesting or directing the Trustee to take, or not to take, or consenting to, certain actions hereunder, or (iv) the records and procedures of the Depositary, or such other depositary, as the case may be.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 3.01. Redemption of Securities, Applicability of Section.
Redemption of Securities of any series as permitted or required by the terms thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities as specified pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Section, the provision of such series of Securities shall govern.
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SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption, Selection of Securities.
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, it shall fix a date for redemption. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company, or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The Company or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall give notice of such redemption, in the manner and to the extent set forth in Section 15.04, on that date prior to the date fixed for a redemption to the holders of such Securities so to be redeemed, as a whole or in part, (a) as set forth in Board Resolutions, as described in Section 2.03, or (b) as determined by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Executive Vice President, the Secretary and each officer of the Company designated by any of the foregoing officers (each, an “Authorized Officer”) and evidenced by the preparation of an offering document or an Officers’ Certificate specifying the period of notice of such redemption. If the Board Resolutions or an Authorized Officer do not specify a longer period of notice of such redemption, the Company or, at the written request of the Company, the Trustee, shall give notice of such redemption, in the manner and to the extent set forth in Section 15.04, at least ten Business Days and not more than 60 calendar days prior to the date fixed for a redemption to the holders of such Securities so to be redeemed as a whole or in part. Notice given in such manner shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the holder of any such Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security. If the Company requests the Trustee to give any notice of redemption, it shall make such request in writing in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least ten days prior to the designated date for delivering such notice, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price at which such Securities are to be redeemed, the CUSIP numbers of such Securities, the Place of Payment where such Securities maturing after the date of redemption, are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption prices, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in the notice, and that on and after the date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all of a series is to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of the same series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit in trust with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption. If less than all of a series of Securities is to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee adequate written notice at least 45 days in advance (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner is it shall deem appropriate and fair, not more than 60 days prior to the date of redemption, the numbers of such Securities Outstanding not previously called for redemption, to be redeemed in whole or in part. The portion of principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of the Securities to be redeemed. If, however, less than all the Securities of a series having differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
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SECTION 3.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after that date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to that date) interest on such Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Securities subject to redemption at the Place of Payment and in the manner specified in such notice, such Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, that unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose stated maturity date is on or prior to the date of redemption shall be payable to the holders of such Registered Securities, or one or more predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 2.05.
At the option of the Company, payment with respect to Registered Securities may be made by check to the holders of such Securities or other persons entitled thereto against presentation and surrender of such Securities.
Any Security that 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 such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and upon such presentation, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so presented. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or permanent global Security, respectively.
SECTION 3.04. Redemption Suspended During Event of Default.
The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities (unless all Securities then outstanding are to be redeemed) or commence the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities during the continuance of any Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge or has received written notice thereof, except that where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities, provided funds are deposited with it for such purpose. Except as aforesaid, any moneys theretofore or thereafter received by the Trustee shall, during the continuance of such Event of Default, be held in trust for the benefit of the securityholders and applied in the manner set forth in Section 6.06; provided, that in case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided herein or otherwise cured, such moneys shall thereafter be held and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE 4
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on each of the Securities of a series at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 4.02. Offices for Notices and Payments.
If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for such series an office or agency 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 to the Trustee notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change in the location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency as required, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and surrenders of Securities of that series may be made and notices and demands may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective 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, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the holders of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby initially designates the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the office of the Company where Registered Securities may be presented for payment, for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities or of this Indenture may be served; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Company for service of legal process.
SECTION 4.03. Provisions as to Paying Agent.
(a) Whenever the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such 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 and will notify the Trustee of the receipt of sums to be so held;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any interest on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that at any time when any such failure has occurred and is continuing, it will, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or any interest on the Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or any interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
(c) Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to a series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or any interest on, any Securities, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or any interest, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
(d) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for such series by it or any paying agent hereunder as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained, 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.
(e) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 12.03 and Section 12.04.
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SECTION 4.04. Statement as to Compliance.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, commencing with the fiscal year ending in the year during which the first series of Securities is issued hereunder (but in no event more than one year from the issuance of the first series hereunder), an Officers’ Certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or other principal executive officer and by the Chief Financial Officer or other principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Controller of the Company, stating, as to each signer thereof, that:
(a) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his supervision; and
(b) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has fulfilled all its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.
SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence.
Subject to the provisions of Article 11, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises and the corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of its Subsidiaries; provided, that the Company shall not be required to, or to cause any Subsidiary to, preserve any right or franchise or to keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of any Subsidiary if the Company shall determine that the keeping in existence or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in or consistent with the conduct of the business of the Company.
SECTION 4.06. Reserved.
SECTION 4.07. Waiver of Covenants.
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth herein if before or after the time for such compliance the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series affected thereby then Outstanding shall either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE 5
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.01. Securityholder Lists.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (1) semiannually, within 15 days before each record date when any Securities of a series are Outstanding, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of all information in the possession or control of the Company as to the names and addresses of the holders of such Registered Securities as of such date, and (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 10 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of all information in the possession or control of the Company as to the names and addresses of the holders of Registered Securities of a particular series specified by the Trustee as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished; provided, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar with respect to such series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.
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SECTION 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the sending of any material pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company covenants so long as Securities are Outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to holders, copies of such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided, that with respect to any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company intends to file such information, documents or reports with the Commission in electronic form in accordance with Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system. Compliance with the foregoing, or any successor electronic system approved by the Commission, will constitute delivery by the Company of such reports to the Trustee and holders in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee will have no duty to search for or obtain any electronic or other filings that the Company makes with the Commission, regardless of whether such filings are periodic, supplemental or otherwise. Delivery of the reports, information and documents to the Trustee in accordance with this Section 5.03 will be solely for the purposes of compliance with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents (whether or not filed in electronic form) is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such will not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, content or timelines of any report hereunder aside from any report transmitted under this Indenture.
SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after [ ] of each year commencing with the first [ ] following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01, so long as any Securities are outstanding hereunder and if there has been any change in the following, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first-class postage prepaid, to the securityholders, as their names appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such [ ] with respect to any of the events specified in Section 313(a) and Section 313(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act that may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding [ ] and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.
(c) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) Reports under this Section will be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Section 313(c) and Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
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ARTICLE 6
REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default; Acceleration of Maturity.
In case one or more of the following Events of Default with respect to a particular series shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) default in (i) the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise or (ii) any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series;
(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days;
(c) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company contained in the Securities or in this Indenture for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Material Subsidiary in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or for any substantial part of their respective property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
(e) the Company or the Material Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or the Material Subsidiary or for any substantial part of their respective property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series; then, if an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing, and in each and every such case, unless the principal amount of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders) may declare the principal amount of all the Securities (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; or, if an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e) shall have occurred and be continuing, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
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SECTION 6.02. Rescission and Annulment
The provisions in Section 6.01 are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Securities of any one or more of all series, as the case may be, shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of such series or of all the Securities, as the case may be, and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of such series or of all the Securities, as the case may be (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities), which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest specified in the Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be (or, with respect to Original Issue Discount Securities, at the rate specified in the terms of such Securities for interest on overdue principal thereof upon maturity, redemption or acceleration of such series, as the case may be), to the date of such payment or deposit, and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or willful misconduct, and any and all defaults under the Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities that has become due by acceleration, shall have been remedied; then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to that series or with respect to all Securities, as the case may be in such case, treated as a single class and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the securityholders, as the case may be, shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the securityholders, as the case may be, shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 90 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal or premium, if any, of any Security at the maturity thereof, including any maturity occurring by reason of a call for redemption or otherwise, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the holders of such Securities, the whole amount that shall have become due and payable on such Securities for principal or premium, if any, and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate borne by 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.
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, and may prosecute such proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the 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 the Securities, wherever situated.
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If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the securityholders 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 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In the case of the pendency of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium, if any, and any interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the holders of Securities allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder of Securities to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the holders of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to 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 7.06. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, advances and other amounts out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, moneys, securities and other property which the holders of the Securities may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan or reorganization or arrangements or otherwise.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of the holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.05. 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, be for the ratable benefit of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected 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 on account of principal or premium, if any, or any interest, upon presentation of the Securities, as the case may be, 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 7.06 or 14.05;
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SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article 16;
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal of and premium, if any, and any 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 interest, respectively; and
FOURTH: To the Company or its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.
SECTION 6.07. 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 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;
(2) the 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 to the Trustee indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceedings; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities;
it being understood and intended that no one or more such holders of Securities 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 of Securities 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 such holders of Securities.
SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal 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 premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.05 and Section 3.02) any interest on such Security on the respective stated maturities 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 right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any holder of a Security 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 and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.
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SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as provided in Section 2.09, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities 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 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Default or any acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.12. Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of each 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, provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any statute, 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) the Trustee need not take any action which it in good faith determines might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the securityholders not consenting (provided, however, that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative obligation to determine whether such action is unduly prejudicial to the securityholders not consenting).
Upon receipt by the Trustee of any such direction with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a temporary global Security or a permanent global Security, the Trustee shall establish a record date for determining holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such direction. The holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such persons, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such holders remain holders after such record date, provided that, unless such majority in principal amount shall have been obtained prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such direction shall automatically and without further action by any holder be cancelled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a holder, or a proxy of a holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new direction identical to a direction which has been cancelled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.12.
SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all the Securities of that series, waive any past default hereunder and its consequences, except a default:
(a) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any interest on any Security; or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that pursuant to Article 10 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Security affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Default or 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.
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SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to 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, or to any suit instituted by any holder of any Securities for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any interest on any Security on or after the respective stated maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date, except, in the case of a partial redemption, with respect to the portion not so redeemed).
SECTION 6.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default of a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default of such series which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions 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 a particular series has occurred (which has not been cured), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(c) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred, the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to such series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
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(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(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 of Securities pursuant to Section 6.12 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.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed as requiring the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, judgement, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties not only as the due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained herein. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company; and 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 and/or Opinion of Counsel;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the 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;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders of any Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) 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, coupon or other paper or documents, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may 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;
(f) 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;
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(g) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(h) in no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, incidental, punitive 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;
(i) in no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, strikes, pandemics, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, sabotage, epidemics, riots, nuclear or natural catastrophes, earthquakes, fires, floods, or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services, labor disputes, acts of civil or military authorities and governmental actions, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee will use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;
(j) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers hereunder;
(k) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and
(1) the permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, the Trustee shall not be answerable other than for its negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, provided that the Trustee shall not be relieved of its duty to authenticate Securities only as authorized by this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 7.04. Ownership of Securities.
The Trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, authenticating agent, paying agent, Security Registrar or such other agent of the Company or of the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held un-invested in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree in writing with the Company to pay thereon.
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SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which to the extent permitted by law shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as otherwise expressly provided, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee forthwith upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled to make and to be reimbursed for, advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, suit, liability or expense, (including attorney’s fees and expenses, and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured or determined by, the income of the Trustee)) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability, whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other person. The obligations of the Company under this Section shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
To secure the Company’s obligations under this Section, the Trustee shall have a senior claim to which the Securities are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.07. Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel as Evidence.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate or opinion, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 7.08. Disqualifications; Conflicting Interest of Trustee.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 7.09. Eligibility of Trustee.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority, (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and (d) shall not be the Company or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law, or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation at any time shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
SECTION 7.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series by giving written notice of resignation to the Company. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the applicable series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee at the expense of the Company. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 7.08 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such securityholder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, 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, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.14, any securityholder of such series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series 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 and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) Upon 30 days’ prior written notice, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series (voting as one class) at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of all series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of all series.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and any appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon the appointment of a successor trustee and the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
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SECTION 7.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the predecessor trustee shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the predecessor trustee. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing in order more fully and certainly to vest in and confirm to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee, including the initial Trustee, ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.
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 predecessor Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and 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 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.
No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under the provisions of this Article 7.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to all holders of Securities of any applicable series as the names and addresses of such holders shall appear on the registry books. If the Company fails to mail such notice in the prescribed manner within ten days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be so mailed at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.12. Successor by Merger, etc.
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 of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be qualified and eligible under the provisions of this Article 7, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any 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 may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.13. Limitations on Rights of Trustee as Creditor.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
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SECTION 7.14. Notice of Default.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default on a series of Securities hereunder of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received notice or is deemed to have notice in accordance with this Section 7.14, the Trustee shall transmit to all securityholders of that series, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 15.04, notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security or on the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the securityholders; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in clause (c) of Section 6.01 no such notice to securityholders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. The Trustee will not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default, except failure by the Company to pay or cause to be made any of the payments required to be made to the Trustee, unless a Responsible Officer shall receive written notice of such default or Event of Default from the Company or by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities delivered to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice states that it is a notice of a default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities and this Indenture, and in the absence of such notice so delivered the Trustee may conclusively assume no default or Event of Default exists. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
SECTION 7.15. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent or agents (which may be an affiliate or affiliates of the Company) 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 or upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 2.09, 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 or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers or to otherwise act as authenticating agent, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority, and (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000. 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 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.
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 and shall promptly give notice of such appointment to all holders of Securities in the manner and to the
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extent provided in Section 15.04. 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.
The Company agrees to pay to each authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation 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.
| [ ], | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: [ ], as Authenticating Agent | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Date: | ||
If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing, shall appoint in accordance with this Section an authenticating agent (which, if so requested by the Company, shall be such affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities, provided that the terms and conditions of such appointment are acceptable to the Trustee.
ARTICLE 8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.01. Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any authorization, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of securityholders.
In determining whether the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series have taken any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), (i) the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that could be declared to be due and payable upon an Event of Default pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security at the time the taking of such of such action is evidenced to the Trustee, and (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date of original issuance of such Security in accordance with Section 2.03(b) hereof, of the principal amount of such Security.
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SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a securityholder or its agent or proxy, or of the holding by any person of a Security, shall be sufficient and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.
The principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
The record of any securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.
SECTION 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may deem the person in whose name such Registered Security shall be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Registered Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon), for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.05 and Section 2.07, any interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Security.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any temporary or permanent global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or of the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary, or impair, as between a Depositary and holders of beneficial interests in any temporary or permanent global Security, as the case may be, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary as holder of such temporary or permanent global Security.
SECTION 8.04. Company-Owned Securities Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the required aggregate principal amount of Securities have provided any request, demand, authorization, notice, direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Securities and that the pledgee is not a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound.
At any time prior to the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security, the identifying number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action, may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of
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such Security and of any Security issued upon registration of transfer of or in exchange or substitution therefor in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities.
SECTION 8.06. Record Date.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of holders of Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent or to otherwise take any action under this Indenture authorized or permitted by Section 6.12 and Section 6.13 or otherwise under this Indenture. Such record date shall be the later of (i) the date 20 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or other action and (ii) the date of the most recent list of holders of such Securities delivered to the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 prior to such solicitation. If such a record date is fixed, those persons who were holders of such Securities at the close of business on such record date shall be entitled to vote or consent or take such other action, or to revoke any such action, whether or not such persons continue to be holders after such record date, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date.
ARTICLE 9
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
SECTION 9.01. Purposes of Meeting.
A meeting of holders of any or all series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to waive any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 6;
(b) to remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee.
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of securityholders of any or all series to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place in New York, New York or as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the securityholders of any or all series, setting forth the time and place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given in the manner provided in Section 15.04 not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
SECTION 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.
In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, then Outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of securityholders of any or all series to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have provided notice of such meeting in the manner provided in Section 15.04 within 30 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or the holders of such Securities in the amount above specified may determine the time and the place in New York, New York for such meeting and may call such meeting by giving notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.
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SECTION 9.04. Qualifications for Voting.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of securityholders a person shall be a holder of one or more Securities of such series Outstanding with respect to which a meeting is being held or a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by such a holder or holders. The only persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of the securityholders of any series shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
SECTION 9.05. Regulations.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of securityholders of a series, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it deems fit. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Article 8 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Article 8. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Article 8 or other proof.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities represented at the meeting and entitled to vote.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and Section 8.04, at any meeting each securityholder or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof in connection with Securities issued in a foreign currency or currency unit) Outstanding principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote except as a securityholder or proxy. Any meeting of securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time, and the meeting may be reconvened without further notice.
SECTION 9.06. Voting.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of securityholders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the securityholders or proxies and on which shall be inscribed the identifying number or numbers or to which shall be attached a list of identifying numbers of the Securities held or represented by them. The chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to the record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that the notice was mailed as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall be signed and verified by the chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
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ARTICLE 10
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.
Without the consent of any holders of Securities, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, pursuant to Article 11 hereof, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as its Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth, with such period of grace, if any, and subject to such conditions as such supplemental indenture may provide;
(c) to establish any series of Securities and the form or terms of securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 2.03, including, without limitation, any subordination provisions and any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, and any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection therewith (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding);
(d) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture);
(e) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article 14, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any holder of a Security of such series or any other Security in any material respect;
(f) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities, registrable or not registrable as to principal;
(g) to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of holders of Securities of any series;
(h) in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for commodities or for the securities of the Company to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding securities or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Company with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 2.03;
(i) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations or restrictions on issue, authentication and delivery of Securities of any series;
(j) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or under any similar federal statute hereafter enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;
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(k) to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination (i) shall become effective only when there is no Security of any series Outstanding and created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision or (ii) shall not apply to any Security Outstanding;
(l) (1) to conform the Indenture or the Securities to the description thereof in the related prospectus, offering memorandum or disclosure document (as provided in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee);
(m) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or in any supplemental indenture;
(n) to add guarantees with respect to, or to secure, any series of Security;
(o) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add or change any provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to Section 7.11; and
(p) to make any change to the Securities of any series or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture that do not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any holder of Securities of any series issued under this Indenture, including provisions necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee 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. No supplemental indenture shall be effective as against the Trustee unless and until the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the same.
SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected, (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all Securities then Outstanding, (c) modify the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of such Securities, or (d) modify any of the above provisions.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the securityholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10, the Company shall provide notice, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 15.04, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to all holders of Securities of each series so affected. Any failure of the Company so to provide such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 and subject to the provisions in any supplemental indenture relating to the prospective application of such instrument, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02, shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of this Article 10 and that all conditions precedent thereto have been satisfied.
SECTION 10.04. Notation on Securities.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 may bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. New Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered, without charge to the securityholders, in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding.
ARTICLE 11
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
The Company covenants that it will not merge into or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any person, firm or corporation, unless (a) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than the Company) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any interest on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such corporation, and (b) the Company or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.
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SECTION 11.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall make available for delivery any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All of the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution thereof.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to be Given Trustee.
The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article 11 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
ARTICLE 12
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time:
(a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated (other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.09, and (ii) 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 4.03), or
(b) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) shall have become due and payable, or (ii) are by their terms to become due and payable 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, and the Company in the case of (b)(i), (b)(ii) or (b)(iii) above shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Company in accordance with Section 12.04) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of such series not therefore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and any interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of and at the cost and expense of the Company and subject to Section 15.05, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities of such series. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series or of all series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel which together shall state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
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SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of clause (e) of Section 4.03, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 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 the persons entitled thereto, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest (and premium, if any) for which payment of such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series and the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, all moneys with respect to such Securities then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.
Subject to applicable law, any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal (and premium, if any, on) or interest shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent upon written request from the Company, and the holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.
ARTICLE 13
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the holders thereof and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE 14
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article.
Unless, as specified pursuant to Section 2.03(b), provision is made that either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.02 and (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.03 shall not apply to the Securities of a series, then the provisions of such Section 14.02 and Section 14.03, together with Section 14.04 and Section 14.05, shall be applicable to the Outstanding Securities of all series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 14.
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SECTION 14.02. Defeasance and Discharge.
Subject to Section 14.05, the Company may cause itself to be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied but subject to satisfaction of the conditions subsequent set forth below (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 4.02 and Section 4.03 and such obligations as shall be ancillary thereto, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder, and (D) this Article 14. Subject to compliance with this Article 14, defeasance with respect to Securities of a series by the Company is permitted under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its rights under Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of such series. Following a defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
SECTION 14.03. Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may cause itself to be released from its obligations under any Sections applicable to Securities of a series that are determined pursuant to Section 2.03(b) to be subject to this provision with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied but subject to satisfaction of the conditions subsequent set forth below (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding 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 any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 14.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions precedent or, as specifically noted below, subsequent to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Outstanding Securities of such series:
(a) The Company shall irrevocably have 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 the holders of such Securities, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (1) the principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the due dates thereof. Before such a deposit the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article 3 which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, “U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a) (2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government
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Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt;
(b) No default, or event that after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default with respect to the Securities of such series, shall have happened and be continuing (i) on the date of such deposit or (ii) insofar as Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this clause (b) is a condition subsequent and shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);
(c) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (i) cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 7.08 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or (ii) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(d) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(e) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted;
(f) In the case of a defeasance under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;
(g) In the case of covenant defeasance under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(h) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 2.03(b); and
(i) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent and subsequent provided for in this Indenture relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03, as the case may be, have been complied with.
SECTION 14.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (but not including the Company acting as its own paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, provided that the Trustee shall not be required to liquidate any U.S. Government Obligations in order to comply with the provisions of this paragraph.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if and to the extent the deposited money or U.S. Government Obligations (or the proceeds thereof) either (i) cannot be applied by the Trustee in accordance with this Section because of a court order or by operation of Article 16 or (ii) are for any reason insufficient in amount, then the Company’s obligations to pay principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series shall be reinstated to the extent necessary to cover the deficiency on any due date for payment. In any such case, the Company’s interest in the deposited money and U.S. Government Obligations (and proceeds thereof) shall be reinstated to the extent the Company’s payment obligations are reinstated.
ARTICLE 15
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 15.01. Benefits of Indenture Restricted to Parties and Securityholders.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article 16, the holders of Senior Indebtedness), any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article 16, the holders of Senior Indebtedness).
SECTION 15.02. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 15.03. Addresses for Notices, etc., to Company and Trustee.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or delivered by first-class postage prepaid mail, facsimile, email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:
(1) If to the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, [ ], Attention: Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Administrator, Telephone: [ ].
(2) If to the Company by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities, addressed to it at 100 Liberty Street, Warren, Pennsylvania 16365, Attention: [ ], Email: [ ].
The Company or the Trustee by written notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
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All notices and communications will be deemed to have been duly given: five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if delivered by mail; on the first Business Day after being sent, if sent by facsimile and the sender receives confirmation of successful transmission; upon confirmation of transmittal (but excluding any automatic reply to such email), if sent by email; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
SECTION 15.04. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of holders of Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at the address of such holder as it appears in the Security Register, not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to holders of Registered Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such holders for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other holders of Registered Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given when delivered to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.
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 of Securities 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.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language.
SECTION 15.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Each Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) 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; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
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SECTION 15.06. Legal Holidays.
In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities or the date fixed for redemption of any Securities shall be a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday in City of New York, New York or in such other Place of Payment as the Company may designate pursuant to Section 4.02, or a day on which banking institutions in City of New York, New York or in such other Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.
SECTION 15.07. Trust Indenture Act to Control.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
SECTION 15.08. Execution in Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) will be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Unless otherwise provided herein or in any other Securities, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any other Securities or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by such Trustee.
SECTION 15.09. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
The parties hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.
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SECTION 15.10. Severability.
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.
The Trustee, by its execution of this Indenture, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth. This Indenture, any supplemental indenture hereto and the exhibits hereto or thereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.
SECTION 15.11. Interpretations.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 15.12. Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.
ARTICLE 16
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 16.01. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.
Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 2.03, the Company agrees, and each holder by accepting a Security agrees, that the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a deposit is made pursuant to Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 with respect to any Securities (and provided all other conditions set out in Section 14.02 or 14.03, as applicable, shall have been satisfied with respect to such Securities), then, when the 90th day after such deposit has ended, no money obligations so deposited, and no proceeds thereon, will be subject to any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness, including any such rights arising under this Article 16.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
| NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| [ ] | ||
| [Title] | ||
| [ ], as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| [ ] | ||
| [Title] | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
|
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP 41 South High Street Suite 2000 Columbus, OH 43215
O +1 614 365-2759 squirepattonboggs.com |
March 2, 2026
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
3 Easton Oval Suite 500
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Northwest Bancshares, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), an indeterminate number of its (i) common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, in one or more series, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or debt securities (collectively, the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) depositary shares representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of the Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”) pursuant to one or more deposit agreements (each, a “Deposit Agreement”), (iv) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), which, unless otherwise provided in any supplement to the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement, may be in the form of (a) unsecured debt securities to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Senior Indenture”), proposed to be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the “Senior Trustee”), a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement, or (b) subordinated debt securities to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures,” and each individually, an “Indenture”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the “Subordinated Trustee” and, together with the Senior Trustee, the “Trustees,” and each individually, a “Trustee”), a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement, (v) warrants for the purchase of one or more Securities (“Warrants”) pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), (vi) purchase contracts for the purchase and sale of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, or Debt Securities (“Purchase Contracts”), issued pursuant o one or more purchase contract agreements (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”) (vii) units consisting of a combination of one or more of the Securities (“Units”), pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”), (viii) subscription rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Debt Securities (“Subscription Rights”), issued pursuant to one or more subscription rights agreements (each, a “Subscription Rights Agreement”) and (vix) any combination of the foregoing securities. The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts, Units and Subscription Rights are collectively referred to as the “Securities” and each, a “Security.” The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Securities may be issued and sold or delivered from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein and any supplements thereto.
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We have examined and relied upon the following: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, as in effect as of the date hereof (the “Articles”); (iii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof (the “Bylaws”); (iv) the form of Senior Indenture and the form of Subordinated Indenture and (v) a copy of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) relating to the registration of the Securities.
We have examined the certificates and other documents delivered on the date hereof in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and such other corporate records, certificates and other documents and have had such conversations as we have deemed necessary or appropriate, and have reviewed such questions of law, as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below.
In such examination and in rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal competency and capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in each form incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be issued, when: (a) the Board of Directors has taken or caused to be taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Common Stock and related matters; (b) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Common Stock have been established so as to not violate any applicable law or the Articles or Bylaws, or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirements or restrictions imposed by any court, regulatory authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (c) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or such shares are issued in uncertificated form in accordance with the Bylaws and Maryland law) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the
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Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors, for the consideration approved by the Board of Directors (not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. With respect to any shares of Preferred Stock to be issued, when: (a) the Board of Directors has taken or caused to be taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and establish the terms of such Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of resolutions relating to the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of such Preferred Stock; (b) Articles Supplementary to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation for the purposes of amending the Articles with respect to the Preferred Stock have been duly filed with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation; (c) the terms of the Preferred Stock and of their issuance and sale have been established so as to not violate any applicable law or the Articles or Bylaws, or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirements or restrictions imposed by any court, regulatory authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (d) certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or such shares are issued in uncertificated form in accordance with the Bylaws and Maryland law) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors, for the consideration approved by the Board of Directors (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), then the shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. With respect to any Depositary Shares offered by the Company, when (i) a Deposit Agreement relating to the Depositary Shares has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Deposit Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deposit Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto and (iv) the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares has been duly authorized and validly issued by the Company and is fully paid and non-assessable and duly delivered to the
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depositary, the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Deposit Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
4. With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company, when (i) the applicable Indenture and indenture trustee has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”) and a Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on a Form T-1 has been or will be filed with the Commission with respect to each such indenture trustee; (ii) the form, terms, execution and delivery of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors, Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Debt Securities, in a form compliant with the applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors, Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities and to be filed as an exhibit or exhibits to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors, Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Debt Securities, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable resolutions of the Board of Directors, Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
5. With respect to any series of Warrants offered by the Company, when (i) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Warrants have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the
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Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Warrants, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
6. With respect to any series of Purchase Contracts offered by the Company, when (i) a Purchase Contract Agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Purchase Contracts, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
7. With respect to any Units offered by the Company, when (i) a Unit Agreement relating to the Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Unit Agreement of which the Units are a component so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Units have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Unit Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Units, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
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8. With respect to any Subscription Rights offered by the Company, when (i) a Subscription Rights Agreement relating to the Subscription Rights has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (ii) the terms of the Subscription Rights and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (iii) the Subscription Rights have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable report under the Exchange Act in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Subscription Rights, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms under the laws of the State of New York.
In rendering the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that, at the time of the delivery of any Securities, all authorizations of the Board of Directors, or a duly formed committee thereof, related to the issuance of such Securities will not have been modified or rescinded, there will not have occurred any change in the law affecting the authorization, execution, delivery, validity or enforceability of the Securities, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective by the Commission and will continue to be effective, none of the particular terms of a series of Securities will violate any applicable law and neither the issuance and sale thereof nor the compliance by the Company with the terms thereof will result in a violation of any agreement or instrument then binding upon the Company or any order of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
Our opinions expressed above are limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Maryland and the State of New York, as such laws presently exist and to the facts as they presently exist. No opinion is expressed herein as to any matters governed by the law of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the prospectus contained therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an expert within the meaning of Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We assume no obligation to advise the Company or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
KPMG LLP
BNY Mellon Center
Suite 3400
500 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2598
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our reports dated February 25, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Northwest Bancshares, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
| /s/ KPMG LLP |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| March 2, 2026 |