Omnicom Group Inc S-3ASR, filed Feb 19, 2020
Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_______________________
| Omnicom Group Inc. | Omnicom Finance Holdings plc |
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
|
New York (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
England and Wales (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
|
13-1514814 (I.R.S. Employer |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer |
| 437 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 (212) 415-3600 |
Bankside 3, 90-100 Southwark Street London, SE1 0SW, United Kingdom +44 (0) 20-7298-7007 |
| (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) |
_______________________
Michael J. O’Brien, Esq.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Omnicom Group Inc.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 415-3600
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
_______________________
Copy to:
Rory T. Hood, Esq.
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
(212) 326-3939
Fax: (212) 755-7306
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
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: ý
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. ý
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 ý | 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. ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered/Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit/Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1) |
Amount of Registration Fee |
| Common Stock of Omnicom Group Inc., par value $.15 per share | ||
| Preferred Stock of Omnicom Group Inc., par value $1.00 per share | ||
| Debt Securities of Omnicom Group Inc. | ||
| Debt Securities of Omnicom Finance Holdings plc | ||
| Guarantee by Omnicom Group Inc. of Debt Securities of Omnicom Finance Holdings plc | (2) (2) (2) | (2) |
| Subscription Rights of Omnicom Group Inc.(3) | ||
| Warrants of Omnicom Group Inc. |
| (1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. |
| (2) | Omnicom Group Inc. will fully and unconditionally guarantee any series of Debt Securities issued by Omnicom Finance Holdings plc. Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate registration fee is required with respect to the guarantee. |
| (3) | Rights evidencing the right to purchase common stock, preferred stock or warrants. |
| OMNICOM GROUP INC. | OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC | |
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_______________ |
|
DEBT SECURITIES |
DEBT SECURITIES |
|
COMMON STOCK |
||
PREFERRED STOCK |
||
GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES |
||
SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS |
||
WARRANTS |
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shares of its common stock, par value $.15 per share; |
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shares of its preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; |
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senior or subordinated debt securities; |
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subscription rights to purchase its common stock, preferred stock or warrants; and |
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warrants to purchase shares of Omnicom Group Inc. common stock or preferred stock. |
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advertising |
investor relations |
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branding |
marketing research |
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content marketing |
media planning and buying |
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corporate social responsibility consulting |
merchandising and point of sale |
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crisis communications |
mobile marketing |
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custom publishing |
multi-cultural marketing |
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data analytics |
non-profit marketing |
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database management |
organizational communications |
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digital/direct marketing |
package design |
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digital transformation |
product placement |
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entertainment marketing |
promotional marketing |
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experiential marketing |
public affairs |
field marketing |
public relations |
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financial/corporate business-to-business advertising |
retail marketing |
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graphic arts/digital imaging |
sales support |
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healthcare marketing and communications |
search engine marketing |
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instore design |
shopper marketing |
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interactive marketing |
social media marketing |
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sports and event marketing |
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Annual Report of Omnicom Group Inc. on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 11, 2020; |
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Current Report of Omnicom Group Inc. on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2020; |
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Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act describing Omnicom Group Inc.’s common stock, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Corporate Secretary
(212) 415-3600
repatriation restrictions, social or political conditions and regulatory environment. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, including those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Except as required under applicable law, we do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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the title and stated value of the preferred stock; |
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the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price of the preferred stock; |
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the dividend rate, period and/or payment date or method of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred stock; |
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whether dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate; |
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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock; |
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the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock; |
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the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into or exchangeable for other types of securities, including the conversion price (or a manner of calculation thereof) and conversion period; |
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voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
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whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; and |
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock. |
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as otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement; |
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as otherwise stated in the certificate of designation establishing such series; or |
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as required by applicable law. |
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may rank equally with other unsubordinated debt or may be subordinated to other debt the Issuer has or may incur; |
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may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities; |
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may be issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount or at a premium or discount; and |
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may be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of a designated depository’s nominee, and if so, beneficial interests in the global note will be shown on and transfers will be made only through records maintained by the designated depository and its participants. |
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the title of the debt securities; |
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ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other outstanding indebtedness, including subsidiaries’ debt; |
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whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt; |
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if the debt securities are subordinated, the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of a recent date, that is senior to the subordinated securities, and any limitation on the issuance of additional senior indebtedness; |
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the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be sold and, if applicable, the method of determining the price; |
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
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the maturity date or dates; |
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the interest rate; |
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the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the securities of the series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or how such date or dates will be determined, and the interest payment date or dates and any related record dates; |
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the location where payments on the debt securities will be made; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be repurchased by the Issuer at the option of the holders thereof; |
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any obligation of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities pursuant to sinking fund provisions; |
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any obligation of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, purchase or repayment; |
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if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which debt securities may be issued; |
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whether the debt securities will be issuable as global securities; |
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if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities payable if the maturity is accelerated; |
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the provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
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any events of default not described in “Events of Default” below; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be exchanged or converted into common stock or preferred stock of Omnicom Group Inc.; |
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the form and terms of any guarantee of or security for the debt securities; |
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any depositories, interest rate calculation agents or other agents; |
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any material provisions of the indenture described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities; and |
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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture. |
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either (a) the Issuer is the successor person or (b) the successor person is an entity organized under the laws of the United States; |
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the successor person expressly assumes the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the debt securities and the indenture; |
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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
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the Issuer or the successor person has delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required under the indenture. |
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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to comply with the indenture’s provisions regarding successor corporations; |
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to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”); |
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to provide for global securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
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to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities; although no such addition, change or elimination may apply to any series of debt security created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor may any such amendment modify the rights of a holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision, unless the amendment becomes effective only when there is no outstanding debt security of any series created prior to such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
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in the case of subordinated debt securities, to make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior indebtedness under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior indebtedness consents to such change); |
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to make any change that does not materially adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any holder; or |
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to establish additional series of debt securities as permitted by the indenture. |
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reduce the percentage of securities whose holders need to consent to the modification; |
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reduce the rate or change the time of payment of interest on the securities; |
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reduce the principal amount of or the premium, if any, on the securities; |
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change the fixed maturity of any of the securities; |
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reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund; |
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reduce the principal amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any securities issued originally at a discount; |
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in the case of any subordinated debt security or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any holder under such provisions; |
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waive a default in the payment of the principal amount of, the premium, if any, or any interest on the securities; |
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change the currency in which any of the securities are payable; |
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impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment on or after the maturity of the securities; or |
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waive a redemption payment with respect to the securities. |
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failure to pay required interest on any debt security of such series for 30 days; |
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failure to pay principal, other than a scheduled installment payment, or premium, if any, on any debt security of the series when due; |
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failure to make any required deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; |
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failure to perform for 60 days after notice any other covenant in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant included in the applicable indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series); |
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(A) the Issuer’s failure to make any payment by the end of any applicable grace period after maturity of its indebtedness, which term as used in the applicable indenture means obligations (other than nonrecourse obligations) of the Issuer for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments in an amount (taken together with amounts in (B)) in excess of $100 million and continuance of such failure, or (B) the acceleration of its indebtedness in an amount (taken together with the amounts in (A)) in excess of $100 million because of a default with respect to such indebtedness without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled in case of (A) or (B) above, for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Issuer by the trustee or to the Issuer and the trustee by the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; however, if any such failure or acceleration referred to in (A) or (B) above shall cease or be cured or be waived, rescinded or annulled in accordance with the terms of the applicable debt security, then the event of default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred; |
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certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or not; or |
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any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement of such series of debt securities. |
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will be deemed to have paid and satisfied its obligations on all outstanding debt securities of such series, which is known as “defeasance and discharge”; or |
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will cease to be under any obligation, other than to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of such debt securities, relating to the debt securities of such series, which is known as “covenant defeasance.” |
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may rank equally with other unsubordinated debt or may be subordinated to other debt the Issuer has or may incur; |
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may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities; |
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may be issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount or at a premium or discount; and |
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may be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of a designated depository’s nominee, and if so, beneficial interests in the global note will be shown on and transfers will be made only through records maintained by the designated depository and its participants. |
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the title of the debt securities; |
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ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other outstanding indebtedness, including subsidiaries’ debt; |
• |
whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt; |
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if the debt securities are subordinated, the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of a recent date, that is senior to the subordinated securities, and any limitation on the issuance of additional senior indebtedness; |
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the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be sold and, if applicable, the method of determining the price; |
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
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the maturity date or dates; |
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the interest rate; |
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the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the securities of the series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or how such date or dates will be determined, and the interest payment date or dates and any related record dates; |
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the location where payments on the debt securities will be made; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be repurchased by the Issuer at the option of the holders thereof; |
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any obligation of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities pursuant to sinking fund provisions; |
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any obligation of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, purchase or repayment; |
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if other than minimum denominations of $200,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the minimum denominations in which debt securities may be issued; |
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whether the debt securities will be issuable as global securities; |
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if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities payable if the maturity is accelerated; |
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the provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
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any events of default not described in “Events of Default” below; |
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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be exchanged or converted into common stock of Omnicom Group Inc.; |
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the form and terms of the guarantee of the debt securities; |
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any depositories, interest rate calculation agents or other agents; |
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if the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more book-entry securities, the name of the depository or its nominee and the circumstances under which the book-entry security may be transferred or exchanged to someone other than the depository or its nominee; |
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any material provisions of the indenture described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities; |
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any listing on a securities exchange; |
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the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities shall be payable; and |
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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture. |
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if there is an amendment to, or change in, the laws, regulations, rulings or treaties of the United Kingdom, the United States or other jurisdiction in which Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. or, in each case, any successor thereof (including a successor person formed by a consolidation with Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc., into which Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. is merged, or that acquires or leases all or substantially all of the property and assets of Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc.) may be incorporated, organized, or otherwise resident for tax purposes, or engaged in business for tax purposes, as applicable, or any political subdivision thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by or on behalf of Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. (a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws, regulations, rulings or treaties, including any action taken by, or a change in published administrative practice of, a taxing authority or a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction, regardless of whether such action, change or holding is with respect to Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc.; |
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as a result of such amendment or change, Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. becomes, or there is a substantial probability that Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. will become, obligated to pay Additional Amounts as defined below in “Payment of Additional Amounts,” on the next payment date with respect to the debt securities of such series (but, in the case of the guarantor, only if the payment giving rise to such requirement cannot be made by Omnicom Finance Holdings); |
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the obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided through Omnicom Finance Holdings’ or Omnicom Group Inc.’s commercially reasonable measures, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a new paying agent, but not including substitution of the obligor of the debt securities; |
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Omnicom Finance Holdings delivers to the trustee: |
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a certificate of Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc., as the case may be, stating that the obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc., as the case may be, taking commercially reasonable measures available to it; and |
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a written opinion of independent tax counsel to Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc., as the case may be, of recognized standing to the effect that Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc., as the case may be, has, or there is a substantial probability that it will become obligated, to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a change, amendment, official interpretation or application described above; and |
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following the delivery of the certificate and opinion described in the previous bullet point, Omnicom Finance Holdings provides notice of redemption not less than 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to the date of redemption. The notice of redemption cannot be given more than 60 days before the earliest date on which Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. would otherwise be, or there is a substantial probability that it would otherwise be, required to pay Additional Amounts. |
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any Taxes that are imposed or withheld solely because such holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such holder holds such debt securities) or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or other equity owner of, or possessor of a power over, such holder (or beneficial owner) if such holder (or beneficial owner) is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity: |
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is or was present or engaged in, or is or was treated as present or engaged in, a trade or business in the Taxing Jurisdiction or has or had a permanent establishment in the Taxing Jurisdiction (in each case, other than the mere fact of ownership of such debt securities, without another presence or business in such Taxing Jurisdiction); |
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has or had any present or former connection (other than the mere fact of ownership of such debt securities) with the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes, including being or having been a national citizen or resident thereof, being treated as being or having been a resident thereof or being or having been physically present therein; |
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(in relation to payments by the guarantor only) is or was a personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company, a controlled foreign corporation, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax exempt organization or corporation that has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax; or |
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(in relation to payments by the guarantor only) actually or constructively owns or owned 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Omnicom Group Inc. within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); |
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Taxes imposed on any holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the debt securities, or a portion thereof, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled to the payment of an Additional Amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner, or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment; |
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any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar Taxes imposed with respect to the debt securities, except as otherwise provided in the indenture; |
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any Taxes imposed solely as a result of the presentation of such debt securities (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the beneficiary or holder thereof would have been entitled to the payment of Additional Amounts had the debt securities been presented for payment on any date during such 30-day period; |
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any Taxes imposed or withheld solely as a result of the failure of such holder or any other person to comply with applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, or identity of such holder or connection with any Taxing Jurisdiction by such holder, if such compliance is required by statute, regulation, ruling or administrative practice of the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or by any applicable tax treaty to which the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction is a party as a precondition to relief or exemption from such Taxes; |
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any Taxes that are payable by any method other than withholding or deduction by Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. or any paying agent from payments in respect of such debt securities; |
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any Taxes required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment in respect of any debt securities if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent; |
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any withholding or deduction required pursuant to sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, official interpretations thereof, any intergovernmental agreement, or any law, rule, guidance or administrative practice implementing an intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with such sections of the Code; or |
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any combination of the above conditions. |
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will make such withholding or deduction of Taxes; |
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will remit the full amount of Taxes so deducted or withheld to the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction in accordance with all applicable laws; |
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will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld; and |
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upon request, will make available to the holders of the debt securities, within 90 days after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld is due pursuant to applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by Omnicom Finance Holdings or Omnicom Group Inc. or if, notwithstanding Omnicom Finance Holdings’ or Omnicom Group Inc.’s efforts to obtain such receipts, the same are not obtainable, other evidence of such payments. |
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either (a) the Issuer or Omnicom Group Inc., as applicable, is the successor person or (b) the successor person is an entity organized under the laws of (i) in the case of the Issuer, the United Kingdom, any member country of the European Union or the United States or (ii) in the case of Omnicom Group Inc., the United States; |
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the successor person expressly assumes (a) in the case of the Issuer, the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the debt securities and the indenture or (b) in the case of Omnicom Group Inc., Omnicom Group Inc.’s obligations with respect to its guarantee of the debt securities and the indenture; |
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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
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the Issuer or Omnicom Group Inc., as applicable, or the successor person has delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required under the indenture. |
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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to comply with the indenture’s provisions regarding successor corporations; |
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to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
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to provide for global securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
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to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities; although no such addition, change or elimination may apply to any series of debt security created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor may any such amendment modify the rights of a holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision, unless the amendment becomes effective only when there is no outstanding debt security of any series created prior to such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
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in the case of subordinated debt securities, to make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior indebtedness under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior indebtedness consents to such change); |
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to secure the debt securities of any series or any guarantee thereof; |
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to add an additional guarantor of any series of debt securities; |
• |
to add to the Issuer’s or the guarantor’s covenants or obligations under the indenture for the protection of the holders of the debt securities or surrender any right, power or option conferred by the indenture on the Issuer or the guarantor of the debt securities; |
• |
to make any change that does not materially adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any holder; or |
• |
to establish additional series of debt securities as permitted by the indenture. |
• |
reduce the percentage of securities whose holders need to consent to the modification; |
• |
reduce the rate or change the time of payment of interest on the securities; |
• |
reduce the principal amount of or the premium, if any, on the securities; |
• |
change the fixed maturity of any of the securities; |
• |
reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund; |
• |
reduce the principal amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any securities issued originally at a discount; |
• |
in the case of any subordinated debt security or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any holder under such provisions; |
• |
waive a default in the payment of the principal amount of, the premium, if any, or any interest on the securities; |
• |
change the currency in which any of the securities are payable; |
• |
impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment on or after the maturity of the securities; |
• |
release Omnicom Group Inc. from its obligations in respect of the guarantee of any series of debt securities or modify Omnicom Group Inc.’s obligations thereunder other than in accordance with the provisions of the indenture; or |
• |
waive a redemption payment with respect to the securities. |
• |
failure to pay required interest on any debt security of such series for 30 days; |
• |
failure to pay principal, other than a scheduled installment payment, or premium, if any, on any debt security of the series when due; |
• |
failure to make any required deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; |
• |
failure to perform for 60 days after notice any other covenant in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant included in the applicable indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series); |
• |
(A) the Issuer’s or Omnicom Group Inc.’s failure to make any payment by the end of any applicable grace period after maturity of their respective indebtedness, which term as used in this clause means obligations (other than nonrecourse obligations) of the Issuer or Omnicom Group Inc., as applicable, for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments in an amount (taken together with amounts in (B)) in excess of $100 million and continuance of such failure, or (B) the acceleration of their respective indebtedness in an amount (taken together with the amounts in (A)) in excess of $100 million because of a default with respect to such indebtedness without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled in case of (A) or (B) above, for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Issuer and Omnicom Group Inc. by the trustee or to the Issuer, Omnicom Group Inc. and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; however, if any such failure or acceleration referred to in (A) or (B) above shall cease or be cured or be waived, rescinded or annulled in accordance with the terms of the applicable indebtedness, then the event of default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred; |
• |
Omnicom Group Inc.’s guarantee applicable to the debt securities of that series ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared null and void or Omnicom Group Inc. denies that it has any further liability under its guarantee of such debt securities to the holders of debt securities of that series, or has given notice to such effect (other than by reason of the release of such guarantee in accordance with the indenture), and such condition shall have continued for a period of 30 days after written notice has been given to the Issuer and Omnicom Group Inc. by the trustee or to the Issuer, Omnicom Group Inc. and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; |
• |
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or not; or |
• |
any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement of such series of debt securities. |
• |
will be deemed to have paid and satisfied their obligations on all outstanding debt securities of such series, which is known as “defeasance and discharge”; or |
• |
will cease to be under any obligation, other than to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of such debt securities, relating to the debt securities of such series, which is known as “covenant defeasance.” |
• |
the title of such subscription rights; |
• |
the securities for which such subscription rights are exercisable; |
• |
the exercise price for such subscription rights; |
• |
the number of such subscription rights issued to each stockholder; |
• |
the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable; |
• |
if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights; |
• |
the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension); |
• |
the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
• |
if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the subscription rights offering; and |
• |
any other terms of such subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such subscription rights. |
• |
the title of the warrants; |
• |
the securities for which the warrants are exercisable; |
• |
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
• |
the number of warrants issued with each share of common stock or preferred stock; |
• |
any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants; |
• |
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related common stock or preferred stock will be separately transferable; |
• |
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence, and the date on which the right shall expire; |
• |
the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time; |
• |
if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants; and |
• |
any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby:
| Amount to be Paid | ||
| Registration Fee | $ * | |
| Printing and Engraving Fees | + | |
| Legal Fees And Expenses | + | |
| Trustee Fees and Expenses | + | |
| Accounting Fees and Expenses | + | |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | + | |
| TOTAL |
+ |
| * | Deferred in reliance upon Rules 456(b) and 457(r). | |
| + | Estimated expenses are not presently known. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable with respect to any offering of securities. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group Inc.’s restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision limiting the liability of directors (except for approving statutorily prohibited dividends, share repurchases or redemptions, distributions of assets on dissolution or loans to directors) to acts or omissions determined by a judgment or other final adjudication to have been in bad faith, involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or resulting in personal gain to which the director was not legally entitled. Omnicom Group Inc.’s by-laws provide that an officer or director will be indemnified against any costs or liabilities, including attorney’s fees and amounts paid in settlement with Omnicom Group Inc.’s consent in connection with any claim, action or proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business Corporation Law, or the NYBCL.
Omnicom Group Inc. has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers, directors and certain other employees. Under the indemnification agreements, Omnicom Group Inc. agrees to indemnify the indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if the indemnitee is made, or is threatened to be made, a party to any proceeding (including a proceeding by or in the right of Omnicom Group Inc. to procure a judgment in its favor) against all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and necessarily incurred by indemnitee in connection with the proceeding. In addition, to the extent that the indemnitee is, by reason of his corporate status, a witness in any proceeding to which the indemnitee is not a party, Omnicom Group Inc. agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the indemnitee against all expenses actually and necessarily incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. Omnicom Group Inc. also agrees, to the extent the Company maintains liability insurance applicable to agents of Omnicom Group Inc. or of any other enterprise which such agent serves at the request of Omnicom Group Inc., the indemnitee will be covered by such policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such agent under such policy or policies.
Section 721 of the NYBCL provides that, in addition to indemnification provided in Article 7 of the NYBCL, a corporation may indemnify a director or officer by a provision contained in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or by a duly authorized resolution of its shareowners or directors or by agreement, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and
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deliberate dishonesty and material to the cause of action, or that such director or officer personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
Section 722(a) of the NYBCL provides that a corporation may indemnify a director or officer made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action other than a derivative action, whether civil or criminal, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 722(c) of the NYBCL provides that a corporation may indemnify a director or officer, made or threatened to be made a party in a derivative action, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or in connection with an appeal therein if such director or officer acted in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification will be available under Section 722(c) of the NYBCL in respect of a threatened or pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or any claim as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines, upon application, that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 723 of the NYBCL specifies the manner in which payment of indemnification under Section 722 of the NYBCL or indemnification permitted under Section 721 of the NYBCL may be authorized by the corporation. It provides that indemnification may be authorized by the corporation. It provides that indemnification by a corporation is mandatory in any case in which the director or officer has been successful, whether on the merits or otherwise, in defending an action. In the event that the director or officer has not been successful or the action is settled, indemnification must be authorized by the appropriate corporate action as set forth in Section 723.
Section 724 of the NYBCL provides that, upon application by a director or officer, indemnification may be awarded by a court to the extent authorized. Section 722 and Section 723 of the NYBCL contain certain other miscellaneous provisions affecting the indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 726 of the NYBCL authorizes the purchase and maintenance of insurance to indemnify (1) a corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of Article 7 of the NYBCL, (2) directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the corporation under the provisions of Article 7 of the NYBCL, and (3) directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the corporation under the provisions of Article 7 of the NYBCL, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York State Superintendent of Insurance, for a retention amount and for co-insurance.
Omnicom Group Inc. has purchased liability insurance for its officers and directors as permitted by Section 726 of the NYBCL.
Omnicom Finance Holdings plc
Omnicom Finance Holdings’ articles of association provide that, each of its directors and officers (other than an auditor) are entitled to be indemnified by Omnicom Finance Holdings against any liability incurred by or attaching to such director or officer in the actual or proposed execution and discharge of his or her duties, the exercise or purported exercise of his or her powers or otherwise in relation to his or her duties, powers or office. Omnicom Finance Holdings’ articles of association also provide that it may purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any persons who are or were at any time its directors, officers or employees against any liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported exercise of their powers and/or otherwise in relation to Omnicom Finance Holdings, and, to such extent as may be permitted by law, otherwise to indemnify or to exempt any such person against or from any such liability. However, in the case of a director, such indemnity does not extend to any indemnity rendered void by the Companies Act 2006. The Companies Act 2006 generally
II-2
renders void an indemnity for a director against any liability attaching to him or her in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he or she is a director. Omnicom Finance Holdings maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers through the Omnicom Group Inc. global policy.
Item 16. Exhibits.
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) Each of the undersigned registrants 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;
(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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section 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 SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 to any purchaser:
| (A) | 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 | |
| (B) | 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 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 |
II-3
| 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. |
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act 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.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 SEC 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.
II-4
EXHIBIT INDEX
| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of the offered securities. |
II-5
SIGNATURES
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 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on February 19, 2020.
| OMNICOM GROUP INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Philip J. Angelastro | ||
| Name: | Philip J. Angelastro | ||
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint John D. Wren and Michael J. O’Brien, and each of them, with full powers of substitution, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the registration under said Act of securities registered pursuant hereto, including specifically, but without limitation thereof, power and authority to sign his or her name, in any and all capacities set forth beneath his or her name, to any amendment to this registration statement in respect of said securities and to any documents filed as part of or in connection with this registration statement or amendments thereto; and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
|
Signature |
Title |
Date |
/s/ John D. Wren John D. Wren |
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Philip J. Angelastro Philip J. Angelastro |
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Andrew L. Castellaneta Andrew L. Castellaneta |
Senior Vice President, Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Alan R. Batkin Alan R. Batkin |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Mary C. Choksi Mark C. Choksi |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Robert C. Clark Robert C. Clark |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Susan S. Denison Susan S. Denison |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Ronnie S. Hawkins Ronnie S. Hawkins |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
II-6
|
Signature |
Title |
Date |
/s/ Deborah J. Kissire Deborah J. Kissire |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Gracia C. Martore Gracia C. Martore |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Linda Johnson Rice Linda Johnson Rice |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
/s/ Valerie M. Williams Valerie M. Williams |
Director | February 19, 2020 |
II-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Omnicom Finance Holdings plc 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 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of London, England, on February 19, 2020.
| OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Stephen Medhurst | ||
| Name: | Stephen Medhurst | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen Medhurst and Anthony Phipkin, and each of them, with full powers of substitution, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys-in-fact and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the registration under said Act of securities registered pursuant hereto, including specifically, but without limitation thereof, power and authority to sign his or her name, in any and all capacities set forth beneath his or her name, to any amendment to this registration statement in respect of said securities and to any documents filed as part of or in connection with this registration statement or amendments thereto; and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
|
Signature |
Title |
Date |
| /s/ Stephen Medhurst Stephen Medhurst |
Director (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer) | February 19, 2020 |
| /s/ Anthony Phipkin Anthony Phipkin |
Director (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 19, 2020 |
| /s/ Philip J. Angelastro Philip J. Angelastro |
Authorized Representative in the United States | February 19, 2020 |
II-8
Exhibit 4.3
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
as Issuer
INDENTURE
Dated as of _____________
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
as Trustee
Debt Securities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 |
| SECTION 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
| SECTION 1.2 | Other Definitions | 5 | |
| SECTION 1.3 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 5 | |
| SECTION 1.4 | Rules of Construction | 5 |
| ARTICLE II | THE SECURITIES | 6 |
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION | 15 |
| ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS | 17 |
| ARTICLE V | SUCCESSORS | 19 |
| SECTION 5.1 | When the Issuer May Merge, Etc | 19 | |
| SECTION 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted | 19 |
| ARTICLE VI | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 20 |
| SECTION 6.1 | Events of Default | 20 | |
| SECTION 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 21 |
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| ARTICLE VII | TRUSTEE | 26 |
| ARTICLE VIII | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 31 |
| ARTICLE IX | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 36 |
-ii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS | 38 |
| ARTICLE XI | SINKING FUNDS | 42 |
-iii-
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
| 310 | (a)(1) | 7.10 |
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| 311 | (a) | 7.11 |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| 312 | (a) | 2.6 |
| (b) | 10.3 | |
| (c) | 10.3 | |
| 313 | (a) | 7.6 |
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(2) | 7.6 | |
| (c) | 7.6 | |
| (d) | 7.6 | |
| 314 | (a) | 4.2, 10.5 |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 10.5 | |
| (f) | Not Applicable | |
| 315 | (a) | 7.1 |
| (b) | 7.5 | |
| (c) | 7.1 | |
| (d) | 7.1 | |
| (e) | 6.14 | |
| 316 | (a) | 2.10 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |
| (b) | 6.8 | |
| 317 | (a)(1) | 6.3 |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| 318 | (a) | 10.1 |
| * | Note: This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. |
-iv-
INDENTURE dated as of _____________ among OMNICOM GROUP INC., a New York corporation, (the “Issuer”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (“Trustee”).
The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”), as herein provided, up to such principal amount as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of its Board of Directors or by supplemental indenture.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Issuer in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly, or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the Issuer, either the board of directors of the Issuer or any duly authorized committee of such board of directors.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted by its Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by its Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate (and delivered to the Trustee, if appropriate).
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Issuer by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Financial Officer, a President or a Vice
President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at (i) for purposes of surrender, transfer or exchange of any Security, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, c/o DB Services Americas, Inc., 5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, Attn: Transfer Department and (ii) for all other purposes, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Trust and Agency Services, 60 Wall Street, 24th Floor, MS NYC 60-2405, New York, New York 10005, USA, Attention: Corporate Team/Omnicom or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the parties hereto or at the designated corporate trust office of any successor Trustee as to which such successor Trustee may notify the parties hereto in writing.
“Debt” of any person as of any date means, without duplication, all indebtedness of such person in respect of borrowed money, including all interest, fees and expenses owed in respect thereto (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or only to a portion thereof), or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments.
“Default” means any event which is, or with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depository” means, unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Debt.
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“Guarantor” means any person, if any, identified pursuant to Section 2.2.18 of this Indenture as providing a Guarantee of any of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture, and its successors and assigns.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” when used with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Discount Security.
“Issuer” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean any such successor. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuer.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer of the Issuer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Issuer of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Issuer created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Significant Subsidiary” means (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) any group of direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together as a group, would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding voting stock of such person, (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such person, by such person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such person’s other Subsidiaries.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code ss. ss. 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended from time to time, and as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, 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.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the
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amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.7 |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 |
| “successor person” | 5.1 |
SECTION 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the Securities means the Issuer and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
SECTION 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) references to “generally accepted accounting principles” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;
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(d) “or” is not exclusive;
(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
SECTION 2.1 Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. 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 the Indenture.
SECTION 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.21) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
2.2.1 the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.5);
2.2.4 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5 the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
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2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer;
2.2.8 the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof upon the happening of any event and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9 the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Issuer at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and conditions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10 if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11 whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities of such Series in definitive registered form, the Depository for such Global Security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.3;
2.2.12 if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13 the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
2.2.14 any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.15 any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.16 any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.1, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);
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2.2.17 any depositories, interest rate calculation agents, or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.18 the form and terms of any Guarantee of the Securities and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which any Guarantees thereof shall be subordinated in right of payment to other indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor;
2.2.19 the provisions relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.20 the subordination, if any, of the Securities of the Series pursuant to this Indenture and any changes or additions to the provisions of this Indenture then in effect; and
2.2.21 if and as applicable, the terms and conditions of any right to exchange for or convert Securities of the Series into shares of common stock or preferred stock of the Issuer.
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, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate.
The Securities of each Series shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistent herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any Series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 2.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.3 Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
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The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions in writing from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent or agents. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
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 the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer.
SECTION 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Issuer shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar or Paying Agent. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
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The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligations to maintain a Registrar and Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and custodian of Global Securities for the Depository for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or custodian of Global Securities for the Depository, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
SECTION 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.
The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
SECTION 2.6 Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
SECTION 2.7 Transfer and Exchange. Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.5).
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Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing or electronic delivery of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or electronic delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
SECTION 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) 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 Issuer or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Issuer shall execute and upon its request 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 Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Issuer may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 2.9 Outstanding Securities. The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
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If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. Additionally, if a Security is paid pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate with respect to any Series.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
SECTION 2.10 Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a responsible officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.11 Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.12 Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and upon written instruction from the Issuer deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Issuer, unless the Issuer otherwise directs. The Issuer may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
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SECTION 2.13 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 30 days before the record date, the Issuer shall mail or electronically deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Issuer may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
SECTION 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1 General; Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities. If the Issuer shall establish that the Securities of a particular Series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Issuer shall execute one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the outstanding Securities of such Series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee and (iii) shall be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for the Depository or otherwise delivered pursuant to the Depository’s instruction, and the Trustee, in accordance with Section 2.3, shall authenticate such Global Security or Global Securities.
2.14.2 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Issuer executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so
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if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.
2.14.3 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.7 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
2.14.4 Acts of Holders. The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
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2.14.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6 Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.4, the Issuer, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depository with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Agents may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever (except for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions) including the transfer or exchange of such Security, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee or the Agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 2.15 CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers. The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers.
SECTION 3.1 Notice to Trustee. The Issuer may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Issuer wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Issuer shall give the notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner in accordance with the procedures of the Depository. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding
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not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $2,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
SECTION 3.3 Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail (or deliver such notice electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(g) the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and
(h) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Issuer’s request and upon its provision of such notice information, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense.
SECTION 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed or delivered electronically as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or any portion of the Securities
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called for redemption (unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest).
SECTION 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the certificated Security surrendered.
SECTION 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest. The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that the Issuer will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Any amounts to be given to the Trustee or Paying Agent, shall be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, by the Issuer. Such payments shall be considered made on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments with respect to such Securities then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 4.2 SEC Reports. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Issuer is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Issuer also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA ss. 314(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders, as applicable, if the Issuer has filed such reports with the SEC via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) System filing system (or any successor system thereto) and such reports are publicly available. The Issuer will notify the Trustee of the filing by email or otherwise.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
SECTION 4.3 Compliance Certificate. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, an Officer’s Certificate signed by one of
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the principal executive, financial or accounting officers of the Issuer, stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge).
The Issuer will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver in writing to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, within 10 Business Days after becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default that is continuing, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.
SECTION 4.5 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Significant Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Significant Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and the Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, if the Issuer’s Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
SECTION 4.6 Taxes. The Issuer shall, and shall cause the Significant Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
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SECTION 5.1 When the Issuer May Merge, Etc. The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
(a) the successor person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction;
(b) the successor person expressly assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the Issuer’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and
(c) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
For purposes of the foregoing, the conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer (other than to the Issuer or another Subsidiary of the Issuer), which, if such assets were owned by the Issuer, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer, but a bona fide pledge or hypothecation will be deemed not to be prohibited by this Indenture.
SECTION 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Issuer herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Issuer in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities. The Issuer, the Trustee and the successor person shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor person and such discharge and release of the Issuer.
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SECTION 6.1 Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Issuer with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
(b) default in the payment of the principal, other than a scheduled installment payment, or premium, if any, of any Security of that Series when such payment becomes due and payable, at its Maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise; or
(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or
(d) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(e) (A) the Issuer’s failure to make any payment by the end of any applicable grace period after maturity of its indebtedness, which term as used in this clause (e) means obligations (other than nonrecourse obligations) of the Issuer for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments in an amount (taken together with amounts in (B)) in excess of $100 million and continuance of such failure, or (B) the acceleration of its indebtedness in an amount (taken together with the amounts in (A)) in excess of $100 million because of a default with respect to such indebtedness without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled in case of (A) or (B) above, for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; however, if any such failure or acceleration referred to in (A) or (B) above shall cease or be cured or be waived, rescinded or annulled in accordance with the terms of the applicable indebtedness, then the Event of Default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred;
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(f) The Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of its respective property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or
(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.14.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default as to the Issuer referred to in Section 6.1(f) or (g)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(f) or (g) shall occur as to the Issuer, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(i) all overdue interest, if any, on all Securities that Series,
(ii) the principal of any Securities of that Series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of and interest thereon at the rate or rates therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is legally enforceable, interest upon any overdue principal and overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities of that Series, and
(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest of Securities of that Series which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Issuer covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Issuer will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to them, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal or any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
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If the Issuer fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Issuer or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Issuer or of 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 Issuer 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 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, indemnity, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders 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 custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.5 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
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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 Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 6.6 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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Issuer or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct in a final non-appealable judgment.
SECTION 6.7 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
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b) 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;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) 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 of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
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SECTION 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders 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 interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or 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 rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall 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 had been instituted.
SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.12 Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
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SECTION 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 6.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 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 Issuer, 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 for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
SECTION 7.1 Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied duties shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
(ii) In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee
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shall examine such Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, 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 is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and subject to the standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) and (g) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.
SECTION 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
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(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its choosing 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.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities 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 by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities, unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default or Event of Default shall have been received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office and such notice references this Indenture and the applicable Series of Securities.
(h) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, 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.
(j) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each Agent, custodian and any other person employed to act hereunder.
(k) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
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SECTION 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
SECTION 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
SECTION 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after May 15 in each year commencing May 15, 20[ ], the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA ss. 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee compensation as agreed to in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee, in each of its capacities hereunder, (including the cost of defending itself) against any claims, loss, liability or expense incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
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The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee or agent of the Trustee through its own negligence or willful misconduct.
To secure the Issuer’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(f) or (g) occurs, 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 termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
SECTION 7.8 Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer. The Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may, at the expense of the Issuer, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee at the expense of the Issuer subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, and the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
SECTION 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA ss.ss. 310(a) (1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 310(b).
SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims. The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
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(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Issuer, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer; and
(c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Issuer to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
SECTION 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.
(b) The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the
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amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
SECTION 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.16, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the Issuer shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for making the purpose of the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest, premium, if any, and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
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(d) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(e) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Issuer or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuer;
(f) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
(g) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance by this Section have been complied with.
SECTION 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.16 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Issuer may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.16 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.1), with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Issuer has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest, principal and premium, if any, in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written
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certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(d) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(e) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Issuer or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuer; and
(f) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.4 have been complied with.
SECTION 8.5 Repayment to the Issuer. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Issue upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
SECTION 8.6 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 8.2 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Holders of Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2.
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SECTION 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. The Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to comply with Article V;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any Securityholder;
(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(f) in the case of subordinated Securities, to make any change in the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior Debt under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior Debt consents to such change);
(g) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to Securities of a Series; although no such addition, change or elimination may apply to Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor may any such amendment modify the rights of a Holder of any Security with respect to such provision, unless the amendment becomes effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any Series created prior to such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(h) to secure the Securities of any Series;
(i) to add to the Issuer’s covenants or obligations under this Indenture for the protection of the Holders or surrender any right, power or option conferred by this Indenture on the Issuer;
(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to 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; or
(k) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
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SECTION 9.2 With Consent of Holders. (a) The Issuer and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), 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 Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Issuer with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Issuer to mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
(b) Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not be made to, as to any non-consenting Securityholder:
(i) reduce the percentage of principal amount of outstanding Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(ii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(iii) reduce the principal amount of or the premium, if any, on any Security or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(iv) in the case of any subordinated Securities, or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under such provisions;
(v) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(vi) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
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(vii) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;
(viii) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.2; or
(ix) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any Securities.
SECTION 9.3 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 9.2(b). In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
SECTION 9.5 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
SECTION 9.6 Trustee Protected. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 10.4, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties, liabilities or immunities.
SECTION 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
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SECTION 10.2 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Issuer or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:
if to the Issuer:
Omnicom Group Inc.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: General Counsel
if to the Trustee:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
MS: NYC60-2405
New York, NY 10005
Attention: Corporates – Omnicom Group Inc.
Fax: 732-578-4635
The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to their address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or delivered electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository. Failure to mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published (or delivered electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Issuer mails (or delivers electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail or deliver electronically a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA ss. 312(c).
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SECTION 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA ss. 314(a) (4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 314(e) and 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 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 10.7 Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 10.8 No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.
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The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
SECTION 10.9 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall 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 PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 10.10 Governing Laws. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
SECTION 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 10.12 Successors. All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
SECTION 10.13 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.
SECTION 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 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 hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 10.15 USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, the Issuer agrees to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for the Issuer in order to enable the Trustee to comply with Applicable Law.
SECTION 10.16 Force Majeure. The Trustee and the Agents shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee or any Agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental
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authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility); provided that nothing in this Section 10.16 shall alter the Trustee’s standard of care under the TIA; and provided further that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
SECTION 10.17 Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. The Issuer agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding brought by any party to enforce any rights under or with respect to this Indenture, any Security or any other document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby may be instituted in any state or federal court in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York, United States of America, irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any claim that and agrees not to claim or plead in any court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof.
To the extent that the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court (including any court in the United States, the State of New York or other jurisdiction in which the Issuer or any successor thereof may be organized or any political subdivisions thereof) or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property or assets, this Indenture, the Securities, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any other documents or actions to enforce judgments in respect of any thereof, then the Issuer hereby irrevocably waives, and will cause its Subsidiaries to waive, such immunity, and any defense based on such immunity, in respect of its obligations under the above-referenced documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, to the extent permitted by law.
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE SECURITIES, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.
SECTION 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an
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“optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
SECTION 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Issuer may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Issuer any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Issuer having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Issuer.
SECTION 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Issuer shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.
Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Issuer in the manner
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provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| OMNICOM GROUP INC. | ||
| By: | __________________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee | ||
| By: | __________________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| By: | __________________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Debt Security
[Title of Series]
[If the Security is a Global Security, insert the following legend: THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.7 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
[Insert any legend required by applicable securities laws and regulations or the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]
No. _____
[CUSIP] [Common Code] [ISIN] _____
$____________
OMNICOM GROUP INC., a New York corporation (the “Issuer,” which term includes any successor person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ Dollars on _________, ____ [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - and to pay interest
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thereon from _________ or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid] or duly provided for, [semi-annually on _________ and in each year] [If other than semi-annual payments, insert frequency of payments and payment dates], commencing ____________, at [If the Security is to bear interest at a fixed rate, insert - the rate of ____% per annum, set forth below] [If the Security is to bear interest at a variable or floating rate and if determined with reference to an index, refer to description of index below] until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [If applicable, insert - and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate of ____% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more predecessor securities) is registered at the close of business on the [regular] record date for such interest, which shall be the _________ or _________ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such [regular] record date and may either be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more predecessor securities) is registered at the close of business on a [special] record date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this Series not less than 10 days prior to such [special] record date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this Series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture).
[If the Securities are floating or adjustable rate securities with respect to which the principal of or any premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, insert the text of the floating or adjustable rate provision.]
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert - any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in ______________, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security register).
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Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
This Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of said state.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| Dated: | OMNICOM GROUP INC. |
| By: | ||
| By: | ||
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Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Signatory | ||
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Form of Reverse of Security.
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
[Title of Series]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer, designated as its _________ due _________ (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more Series under an Indenture, dated as of _________, [as amended by, [insert description of any applicable supplemental indentures]], herein [collectively] called the “Indenture”), between the Issuer and _________, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________]. Capitalized terms used in this Security and not defined herein have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Indenture.
_________, the Trustee under the Indenture has been appointed by the Issuer as paying agent, registrar, [conversion agent] and [custodian] with regard to the Securities.
In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of and accrued interest on all Securities may be declared, and upon said declaration, shall become due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided for in the Indenture.
[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this Series are subject to redemption upon not less than 15 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail (or electronic delivery in accordance with the procedures of the Depository), [if applicable, insert - (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the year ______ and ending with the year ______ through operation of the sinking fund for this Series at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [on or after _________, ____] as a whole or in part, at the election of the Issuer, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before _________, ____% and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,
| Redemption Year | Price | Redemption Year | Price |
and thereafter at a redemption price equal to ___________ of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert - (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the redemption date, but interest installments whose
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stated Maturity is on or prior to such redemption date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more predecessor securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this Series are subject to redemption upon not less than 15 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail (or electronic delivery in accordance with the procedures of the Depository), (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the year ______ and ending with the year ______ through operation of the sinking fund for this Series at the redemption prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after _________], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Issuer, at the redemption prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning _________ of the years indicated,
|
Redemption
Price For |
Redemption
Price For |
Sinking Fund |
and thereafter at a redemption price equal to ____% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the redemption date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity in on or prior to such redemption date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more predecessor securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[The sinking fund for this Series provides for the redemption on ________ in each year beginning with the year _______ and ending with the year _______ of [not less than $________ “mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $________ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this Series. Securities of this Series acquired or redeemed by the Issuer otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [in the inverse order in which they become due).]]
[If the Security is subject to redemption, insert - In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this Series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
The Indenture contains provisions that permit the Issuer to elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from the entire indebtedness of this Security or (2) to be released from its
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obligations under certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon payment in full of the Securities and compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
[If the Security is convertible into or exchangeable for common stock of the Issuer, insert appropriate provisions and specify the conversion features and the form of conversion notice pursuant to the Form of Conversion Notice set forth herein.]
[If the Security is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, specify the conversion features and the form of conversion notice pursuant to the Form of Conversion Notice set forth herein.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this Series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this Series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue-Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this Series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this Series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to - Insert formula for determining the amount.
Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Issuer’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this Series shall terminate.]
[If Security is subordinate Debt, insert - The Issuer and each Holder of the Securities of this Series, by accepting such Securities, agree that the payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities is subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate] creating this Series, to the prior payment in full of all present and future Senior Debt, as defined in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate] and that the subordination provisions in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate] relating to this Series of Securities are for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt. Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee in his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.]
The Indenture permits the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each Series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of each Series to be affected, with certain exceptions as therein provided with respect to certain modifications or amendments which may not be made without the consent of each Holder of such Security
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affected thereby. The Indenture also permits certain amendments and modifications thereto from time to time by the Issuer and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any Series of the Securities to be affected thereby for certain specified purposes, including curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies and making any such change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder of such Series of the Securities, as provided therein.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each Series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such Series, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences with respect to such Series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and Interest on this Security at the times, place and [rate(s)], and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the security register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this Series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this Series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $__________ and integral multiples of $__________ in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this Series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this Series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee or any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Issuer or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
A-9
Exhibit 4.4
OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC,
as Issuer
OMNICOM GROUP INC.,
as Guarantor
INDENTURE
Dated as of ____________
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
as Trustee
Debt Securities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 |
| SECTION 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
| SECTION 1.2 | Other Definitions | 6 | |
| SECTION 1.3 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 6 | |
| SECTION 1.4 | Rules of Construction | 6 |
| ARTICLE II | THE SECURITIES | 7 |
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION | 18 |
| ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS | 19 |
| ARTICLE V | SUCCESSORS | 21 |
| SECTION 5.1 | When the Company and the Guarantor May Merge, Etc | 21 | |
| SECTION 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted | 22 |
| ARTICLE VI | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 22 |
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| ARTICLE VII | TRUSTEE | 29 |
| ARTICLE VIII | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 34 |
| ARTICLE IX | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 39 |
-ii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
| Page |
| SECTION 9.6 | Trustee Protected | 42 |
| ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS | 42 |
| ARTICLE XI | SINKING FUNDS | 46 |
| SECTION 11.1 | Applicability of Article | 46 | |
| SECTION 11.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 47 | |
| SECTION 11.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 47 |
| ARTICLE XII | GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES | 48 |
| SECTION 12.1 | Guarantee | 48 |
| ARTICLE XIII | ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS; CERTAIN TAX PROVISIONS | 52 |
| SECTION 13.1 | Redemption Upon Changes in Withholding Taxes | 52 | |
| SECTION 13.2 | Payment of Additional Amounts | 53 | |
| EXHIBITS | |||
| Exhibit A – Form of Debt Security | A-1 | ||
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
| 310 | (a)(1) | 7.10 |
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| 311 | (a) | 7.11 |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| 312 | (a) | 2.6 |
| (b) | 10.3 | |
| (c) | 10.3 | |
| 313 | (a) | 7.6 |
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(2) | 7.6 | |
| (c) | 7.6 | |
| (d) | 7.6 | |
| 314 | (a) | 4.2, 10.5 |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 10.5 | |
| (f) | Not Applicable | |
| 315 | (a) | 7.1 |
| (b) | 7.5 | |
| (c) | 7.1 | |
| (d) | 7.1 | |
| (e) | 6.14 | |
| 316 | (a) | 2.10 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |
| (b) | 6.8 | |
| 317 | (a)(1) | 6.3 |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| 318 | (a) | 10.1 |
| * | Note: This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. |
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INDENTURE dated as of _____________ among OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), OMNICOM GROUP INC., a New York corporation (the “Guarantor”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (“Trustee”).
Each of the Company and the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”), to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor, as herein provided, up to such principal amount as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors or by supplemental indenture.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
“Additional Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly, or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
“Agent for Service” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such board of directors.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by its Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by its Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate (and delivered to the Trustee, if appropriate).
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate of the Company or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or in The City of London
on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Principal Financial Officer, a President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or any Director, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at (i) for purposes of surrender, transfer or exchange of any Security, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, c/o DB Services Americas, Inc., 5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256, Attn: Transfer Department and (ii) for all other purposes, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Trust and Agency Services, 60 Wall Street, 24th Floor, MS NYC 60-2405, New York, New York 10005, USA, Attention: Corporate Team/Omnicom or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the parties hereto or at the designated corporate trust office of any successor Trustee as to which such successor Trustee may notify the parties hereto in writing.
“Currency” means Dollars or Foreign Currency.
“Debt” of any person as of any date means, without duplication, all indebtedness of such person in respect of borrowed money, including all interest, fees and expenses owed in respect thereto (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or only to a portion thereof), or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments.
“Default” means any event which is, or with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depository” means, unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, one or more of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., Clearstream Banking, S.A., Luxembourg, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.2.
“Designated Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
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“Dollars” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Dollar Equivalent” means with respect to any monetary amount in a Currency other than Dollars, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of Dollars obtained by converting such Foreign Currency involved in such computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the applicable Foreign Currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two Business Days prior to such determination.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Foreign Currency” means a currency, currency unit or composite currency, including the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments or a composite currency the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, when used in relation to Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency, securities that are (i) a direct obligation of the government that issued such currency for the payment of which full faith and credit of such government is pledged or, with respect to Securities of any Series which are denominated in euro, a direct obligation of any member nation of the European Union for the payment of which obligation the full faith and credit of the respective nation is pledged so long as such nation has a credit rating at least equal to that of the highest rated member nation of the European Economic Area or (ii) an obligation of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality for such government, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Foreign Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Foreign Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Foreign Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Foreign Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
“Guarantee” means the full and unconditional guarantee by the Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under any Security of any applicable Series under this Indenture.
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“Guarantor” means the party named as such above, any other person identified pursuant to Section 2.2.18 of this Indenture as providing a Guarantee of any of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” when used with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Discount Security.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary or any Director of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Guarantor.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
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“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Significant Subsidiary” means (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Guarantor that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) any group of direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Guarantor that, taken together as a group, would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding voting stock of such person, (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such person, by such person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such person’s other Subsidiaries.
“Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.
“Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code ss. ss. 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended from time to time, and as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, 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.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
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SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
| “Bankruptcy Code” | 12.1.3 |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 |
| “Guaranteed Obligations” | 12.1.1 |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.7 |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 |
| “successor person” | 5.1 |
| “Taxes” | 13.2 |
| “Taxing Jurisdiction” | 13.1 |
SECTION 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the Securities means the Company, the Guarantor and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
SECTION 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
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(c) references to “generally accepted accounting principles” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;
(d) “or” is not exclusive;
(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(f) for purposes of the covenants and definitions set forth in this Indenture, amounts stated in Dollars shall be deemed to include both Dollars and Dollar Equivalents; and
(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
SECTION 2.1 Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate of the Company or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. 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 the Indenture.
SECTION 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.23) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
2.2.1 the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.5);
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2.2.4 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5 the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
2.2.8 the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof upon the happening of any event and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9 the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and conditions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10 if other than minimum denominations of $200,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the minimum denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11 whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities of such Series in definitive registered form, the Depository for such Global Security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.3;
2.2.12 if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13 the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
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2.2.14 any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.15 any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV, V or XII which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.16 any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.1, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);
2.2.17 any depositories, interest rate calculation agents, or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.18 the form and terms of the Guarantee, including any corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;
2.2.19 the provisions relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.20 the subordination, if any, of the Securities of the Series pursuant to this Indenture and any changes or additions to the provisions of this Indenture then in effect;
2.2.21 if and as applicable, the terms and conditions of any right to exchange for or convert Securities of the Series into shares of common stock of the Guarantor;
2.2.22 any listing on a securities exchange; and
2.2.23 the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, Securities of the Series shall be payable.
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, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate of the Company referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate of the Company.
The Securities of each Series shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistent herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any Series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company
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and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 2.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.3 Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate of the Company, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions in writing from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
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 the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate of the Company establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate of the Company complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes
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authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company, the Guarantor or an Affiliate of either of them.
SECTION 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar or Paying Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar and Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and custodian of Global Securities for the Depository for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or custodian of Global Securities for the Depository, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
SECTION 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.
The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of either of them) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of either of them acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
SECTION 2.6 Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
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Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA ss. 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
SECTION 2.7 Transfer and Exchange. Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.5).
None of the Company, the Guarantor or the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing or electronic delivery of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or electronic delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
SECTION 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) 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 protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request 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 or the Guarantor 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 the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
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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 and the Guarantor, as applicable, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 2.9 Outstanding Securities. The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. Additionally, if a Security is paid pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, the Guarantor, a Subsidiary of either of them or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company with respect to any Series.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, the Guarantor or an Affiliate of either of them holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
SECTION 2.10 Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company, the Guarantor or an Affiliate of either of them shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a responsible officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
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SECTION 2.11 Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.12 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and upon written instruction from the Company deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.13 Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 30 days before the record date, the Company shall mail or electronically deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
SECTION 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1 General; Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities. If the Company shall establish that the Securities of a particular Series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the outstanding Securities of such Series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee and (iii) shall be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for the Depository or otherwise delivered pursuant to the Depository’s instruction, and the Trustee, in accordance with Section 2.3, shall authenticate such Global Security or Global Securities.
2.14.2 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global
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Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.
2.14.3 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.7 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
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DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
2.14.4 Acts of Holders. The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
2.14.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6 Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.4, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depository with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Agents may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever (except for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions) including the transfer or exchange of such Security, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or the Agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 2.15 CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN and/or Common Code numbers.
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SECTION 2.16 Securities Denominated in Foreign Currencies. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, Securities of such Series denominated in any Foreign Currency will be made in such Foreign Currency.
In the event any Foreign Currency or Currencies in which any payment with respect to any Series of Securities may be made ceases to be a freely convertible Currency on United States Currency markets, for any date thereafter on which payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a Series is due, the Company shall select the Currency of payment for use on such date, all as provided in the Securities of such Series, in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate. In such event, the Company shall notify the Trustee of the Currency which it has selected to constitute the funds necessary to meet the Company’s obligations on such payment date and of the amount of such Currency to be paid. Such amount shall be determined as provided in the Securities of such Series, in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company. The payment with respect to such payment date shall be deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company or the Guarantor solely in the Currency so selected.
SECTION 2.17 Designated Currency. The Company may provide pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series that:
(a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any Series in a Foreign Currency or Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.2.23 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of Securities of such Series shall be given in the Designated Currency;
(b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall be discharged, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Securityholder receiving such payment, in accordance with normal banking procedures, may purchase with the amount paid in such other Currency after any premium and cost of exchange on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community immediately following the day on which such Securityholder receives such payment;
(c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and
(d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.
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SECTION 3.1 Notice to Trustee. The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the Company shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner in accordance with the procedures of the Depository. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $200,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $200,000 or multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations or other Currencies pursuant to Section 2.2.10 and Section 2.2.23, respectively, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof and the applicable Currency for such Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
SECTION 3.3 Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail (or deliver such notice electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
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(e) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(g) the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and
(h) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request and upon its provision of such notice information, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
SECTION 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed or delivered electronically as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or any portion of the Securities called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest).
SECTION 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 10:00 a.m. New York City time (or such other time as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency) on the redemption date, the Company or the Guarantor shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the certificated Security surrendered.
SECTION 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that the Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Any amounts to be given to the Trustee or Paying Agent, shall be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time (or such other time as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency), by the Company or the Guarantor. Such payments shall be considered made on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments with respect to such
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Securities then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 4.2 SEC Reports. The Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Guarantor is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company and the Guarantor also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA ss. 314(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the Guarantor will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders, as applicable, if the Guarantor has filed such reports with the SEC via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) System filing system (or any successor system thereto) and such reports are publicly available. The Guarantor will notify the Trustee of the filing by email or otherwise.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or the Guarantor’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
SECTION 4.3 Compliance Certificate. The Company and the Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate signed by one of the principal executive, financial or accounting officers of the Company and the Guarantor, stating that a review of the activities of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company and the Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company and the Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver in writing to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, within 10 Business Days after becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default that is continuing, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company and the Guarantor covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Securities; and the Company and the Guarantor (to the extent they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all
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benefit or advantage of any such law and covenant that they will not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.
SECTION 4.5 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V, the Company and the Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Significant Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Significant Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company, the Guarantor and the Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantor shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, if the Company’s Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
SECTION 4.6 Taxes. The Company and the Guarantor shall, and the Guarantor shall cause, its Significant Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 5.1 When the Company and the Guarantor May Merge, Etc. The Company and the Guarantor shall not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”), except in the case of the Company with, into or to the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor (provided that the successor person (if any) expressly assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture), unless:
(a) either (i) the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, is the successor person or (ii) the successor person is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of (1) in the case of the Company, the United Kingdom, any member country of the European Union or any U.S. domestic jurisdiction or (2) in the case of the Guarantor, any U.S. domestic jurisdiction;
(b) the successor person expressly assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, (i) in the case of the Company, the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture or (ii) in the case of the Guarantor, the Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Guarantee of the Securities and under this Indenture; and
(c) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
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The Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
For purposes of the foregoing, the conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable (other than to the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor), which, if such assets were owned by the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, but a bona fide pledge or hypothecation will be deemed not to be prohibited by this Indenture.
SECTION 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities. The Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, the Trustee and the successor person shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor person and such discharge and release of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable.
SECTION 6.1 Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate of the Company, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company or the Guarantor with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
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(b) default in the payment of the principal, other than a scheduled installment payment, or premium, if any, of any Security of that Series when such payment becomes due and payable, at its Maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise; or
(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or
(d) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(e) (A) the Company’s or the Guarantor’s failure to make any payment by the end of any applicable grace period after maturity of their respective indebtedness, which term as used in this clause (e) means obligations (other than nonrecourse obligations) of the Company or the Guarantor for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments in an amount (taken together with amounts in (B)) in excess of $100 million and continuance of such failure, or (B) the acceleration of their respective indebtedness in an amount (taken together with the amounts in (A)) in excess of $100 million because of a default with respect to such indebtedness without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled in case of (A) or (B) above, for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; however, if any such failure or acceleration referred to in (A) or (B) above shall cease or be cured or be waived, rescinded or annulled in accordance with the terms of the applicable indebtedness, then the Event of Default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred;
(f) the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
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(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of its respective property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(h) the Guarantee by the Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared null and void or the Guarantor denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee to the Holders of Securities of that Series, or has given notice to such effect (other than by reason of the release of such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture), and such condition shall have continued for a period of 30 days after written notice has been given to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; or
(i) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company, in accordance with Section 2.2.14.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, UK Insolvency Act 1986 or any similar foreign, federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, administrator, administrative receiver, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default as to the Company or the Guarantor referred to in Section 6.1(f) or (g)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(f) or (g) shall occur as to the Company or the Guarantor, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company or the Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(i) all overdue interest, if any, on all Securities that Series,
(ii) the principal of any Securities of that Series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of and interest thereon at the rate or rates therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is legally enforceable, interest upon any overdue principal and overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities of that Series, and
(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest of Securities of that Series which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to them, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal or any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
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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, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or the Guarantor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or the Guarantor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or the Guarantor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor 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 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, indemnity, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders 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 custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
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SECTION 6.5 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 Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 6.6 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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct in a final non-appealable judgment.
SECTION 6.7 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
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b) 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;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) 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 of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
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other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
SECTION 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders 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 interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or 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 rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders shall 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 had been instituted.
SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.12 Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
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(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
SECTION 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 6.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 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 Company or the Guarantor, 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 for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
SECTION 7.1 Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied duties shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
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(ii) In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company and the Guarantor. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, 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 is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and subject to the standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) and (g) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.
SECTION 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
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(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its choosing 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.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities 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 by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities, unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default or Event of Default shall have been received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office and such notice references this Indenture and the applicable Series of Securities.
(h) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, 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.
(j) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each Agent, custodian and any other person employed to act hereunder.
(k) 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,
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direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
SECTION 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Guarantor or an Affiliate of either of them with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
SECTION 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
SECTION 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after May 15 in each year commencing May 15, 20[ ], the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA ss. 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company and the Guarantor shall, jointly and severally, pay to the Trustee compensation as agreed to in writing between the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company and the Guarantor shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company and the Guarantor shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Trustee, in each of its capacities hereunder, (including the cost of defending itself) against any claims, loss, liability or expense incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of
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its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Guarantor promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company and the Guarantor shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company and the Guarantor shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company and the Guarantor need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
The Company and the Guarantor need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee or agent of the Trustee through its own negligence or willful misconduct.
To secure the Company’s and the Guarantor’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(f) or (g) occurs, 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 termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
SECTION 7.8 Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying Company and the Guarantor. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
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outstanding Securities of the applicable Series may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company and the Guarantor. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, and the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
SECTION 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA ss.ss. 310(a) (1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 310(b).
SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims. The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
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(a) either
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Company or the Guarantor, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) the Company and Guarantor have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and the Guarantor; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
SECTION 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
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directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or the Guarantor acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.
(b) The Company and the Guarantor shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations, Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations, Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
SECTION 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.16, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the Company or the Guarantor shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for making the purpose of the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the
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benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations or (ii) in the case of Securities denominated in a Currency other than Dollars, cash in such Currency and/or Foreign Government Obligations denominated in such Currency, which through the payment of interest, premium, if any, and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) such deposit will 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 or the Guarantor are a party or by which they are bound;
(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or the Guarantor with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or the Guarantor;
(f) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance by this Section have been complied with.
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SECTION 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.16 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company and the Guarantor may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.16 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.1), with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company or the Guarantor has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations or (ii) in the case of Securities denominated in a Currency other than Dollars, cash in such Currency and/or Foreign Government Obligations denominated in such Currency, which through the payment of interest, principal and premium, if any, in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) Such deposit will 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 or the Guarantor is a party or by which they are bound;
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other
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creditors of the Company or the Guarantor or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or the Guarantor; and
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.4 have been complied with.
SECTION 8.5 Repayment to the Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
SECTION 8.6 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 8.2 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to comply with Article V;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any Securityholder;
(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(f) in the case of subordinated Securities, to make any change in the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to subordination that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of senior Debt under such provisions (but only if each such holder of senior Debt consents to such change);
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(g) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to Securities of a Series; although no such addition, change or elimination may apply to Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision, nor may any such amendment modify the rights of a Holder of any Security with respect to such provision, unless the amendment becomes effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any Series created prior to such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(h) to secure the Securities of any Series or any Guarantee thereof;
(i) to add additional Guarantor(s) of any Series of Securities;
(j) to add to the Company’s or Guarantor’s covenants or obligations under this Indenture for the protection of the Holders or surrender any right, power or option conferred by this Indenture on the Company or the Guarantor;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to 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; or
(l) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
SECTION 9.2 With Consent of Holders. (a) The Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), 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 Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company or the Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company or the Guarantor shall mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company or the Guarantor to mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
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(b) Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not be made to, as to any non-consenting Securityholder:
(i) reduce the percentage of principal amount of outstanding Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(ii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(iii) reduce the principal amount of or the premium, if any, on any Security or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(iv) in the case of any subordinated Securities, or coupons appertaining thereto, make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to subordination that adversely affects the rights of any Holder under such provisions;
(v) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(vi) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(vii) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any Currency other than that stated in the Security;
(viii) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.2;
(ix) release the Guarantor from its obligations in respect of its Guarantee of any Series or modify the Guarantee of any Series other than in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; or
(x) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any Securities.
SECTION 9.3 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or
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portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (i) through (x) of Section 9.2(b). In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
SECTION 9.5 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
SECTION 9.6 Trustee Protected. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 10.4, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties, liabilities or immunities.
SECTION 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
SECTION 10.2 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:
if to the Company:
Omnicom Finance Holdings PLC
Bankside 3, 90-100 Southwark Street
London, SE1 0SW
United Kingdom
Attention: Secretary
if to the Guarantor:
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Omnicom Group Inc.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: General Counsel
if to the Trustee:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
MS: NYC60-2405
New York, NY 10005
Attention: Corporates – Omnicom Finance Holdings PLC
Fax: 732-578-4635
The Company and the Guarantor or the Trustee by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to their address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or delivered electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository. Failure to mail (or deliver electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published (or delivered electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company or the Guarantor mails (or delivers electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depository) a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail or deliver electronically a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA ss. 312(c).
SECTION 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
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(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA ss. 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 314(e) and 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 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 10.7 Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate of the Company or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 10.8 No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.
The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
SECTION 10.9 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall 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 PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
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SECTION 10.10 Governing Laws. THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
SECTION 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of either of them. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 10.12 Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Guarantor in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
SECTION 10.13 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.
SECTION 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 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 hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 10.15 USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agrees to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with Applicable Law.
SECTION 10.16 Force Majeure. The Trustee and the Agents shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee or any Agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility); provided that nothing in this Section 10.16 shall alter the Trustee’s standard of care under the TIA; and provided further that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
SECTION 10.17 Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; and Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Company and the Guarantor agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding brought by any party to enforce any rights under or with respect to this Indenture, any Security or any
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other document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby may be instituted in any state or federal court in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York, United States of America, irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any claim that and agrees not to claim or plead in any court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof.
To the extent that the Company or the Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court (including any court in the United States, the State of New York or other jurisdiction in which the Company, the Guarantor or any successor thereof may be organized or any political subdivisions thereof) or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property or assets, this Indenture, the Securities, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any other documents or actions to enforce judgments in respect of any thereof, then each of the Company and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, and will cause its Subsidiaries to waive, such immunity, and any defense based on such immunity, in respect of its obligations under the above-referenced documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, to the extent permitted by law.
The Company hereby appoints Omnicom Group Inc., 437 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel (the “Agent for Service”), and the Guarantor hereby accepts such appointment, as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York, United States of America. The Company agrees that service of process upon the Agent for Service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of the Agent for Service in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding.
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE SECURITIES, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.
SECTION 11.1 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
SECTION 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate of the Company with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
SECTION 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate of the Company in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.
Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate of the Company or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of
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Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
12.1.1 The Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with any other person who may also guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations (as defined below), unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis as if it was respectively principal debtor and not merely surety, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns on behalf of each Holder, the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, of the principal of and interest on, if any, the Securities, if lawful, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Guarantor, in its capacity as guarantor, further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from the Guarantor, and the Guarantor shall remain bound under its Guarantee and this Indenture, notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor will be obligated to pay the same in full, or cause to be duly and punctually paid in full, without any demand or notice whatsoever.
12.1.2 In its capacity as guarantor, the Guarantor hereby waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. In its capacity as guarantor, the Guarantor also hereby waives notice of any default by the Company under the Securities or this Indenture. The Guarantor agrees that its obligations under its Guarantee shall be continuing, absolute, full and unconditional under any and all circumstances, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and shall not be discharged except by payment in full of the Securities, irrespective of:
(a) the value, genuineness, regularity, validity, enforceability, avoidance, subordination, discharge or disaffirmance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Securities or this Indenture, or the absence of any action to enforce the same;
(b) any extension or waiver, at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantor, of the time for compliance by the Company with any of its obligations under the Securities or this Indenture;
(c) any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture;
(d) any rescission, amendment or modification to any of the terms or provisions of the Securities or this Indenture;
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(e) any law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction affecting any term of any of the Securities or this Indenture or the rights of any Holder or the Trustee with respect thereto;
(f) any failure to obtain any authorization or approval from, or other action by, to notify, or to file anything with, any governmental authority or regulatory body required in connection with the performance of the Guarantee by the Guarantor;
(g) the failure by any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to exercise any right or remedy against the Company or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other person;
(h) the failure by any Holder or the Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any collateral securing any of the Guaranteed Obligations; or
(i) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a defense to or a legal or equitable discharge of the Guarantor’s obligations, in its capacity as guarantor, under its Guarantee or of the Guarantor’s obligations, in its capacity as guarantor, under the Securities and this Indenture.
12.1.3 The Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee, this Indenture and the Securities, in each case in its capacity as guarantor, shall not be limited by any valuation, estimation or disallowance made in connection with any proceedings filed by or against the Guarantor or the Company under Bankruptcy Law, including the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Code”), whether pursuant to Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other section thereof. The Guarantor further agrees that, in its capacity as guarantor, none of the Holders shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of or against or in payment of any or all of the Guaranteed Obligations or the Securities. To the extent that the Guarantor makes a payment or payments on any or all of the Guaranteed Obligations and such payment or payments (or any part thereof) is or are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to the Guarantor, its estate, trustee or receiver or any other party, including, without limitation, the Guarantor, under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment or repayment, the Guaranteed Obligations (or, if applicable, such part thereof as had been paid, reduced or satisfied by such amount), shall be reinstated and revived and continued in full force and effect as of the date such initial payment, reduction or satisfaction occurred. The Guarantor waives, in its capacity as guarantor, all set-offs, counterclaims, reductions and diminutions of any obligation, and any defense of any kind or nature (other than, payment of the Guaranteed Obligations), that the Guarantor may have or assert against the Company or any other person, and all presentments, demands for performance, notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of acceptance of its Guarantee.
12.1.4 The Guarantor, in its capacity as guarantor, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (i) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by any Holder that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of the Guarantor or other rights of the Guarantor to proceed against the Company, any
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other guarantor or any other person or collateral, if any, and (ii) any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Guarantor under this Indenture or the Securities.
12.1.5 The Guarantor, in its capacity as guarantor, hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations under the respective Guarantee and this Indenture divided among it and other guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations, if any, such that the Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. The Guarantor, in its capacity as guarantor, hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Company or any other person who became an “obligor” under the Securities or this Indenture first be used and depleted as payment of the obligations of the Company or such other person, respectively, under the Securities and this Indenture prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by the Guarantor under its Guarantee. The Guarantor, in its capacity as guarantor, hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that suit be instituted against the Company or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or “obligor” under the Securities or this Indenture prior to an action being initiated against the Guarantor. The Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right, in its capacity as guarantor, to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
12.1.6 The failure to endorse the Guarantee on any Security shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.
12.1.7 The Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee shall not be affected if any Holder is precluded for any reason (including, without limitation, the application of the automatic stay under Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code) from enforcing or exercising any right or remedy with respect to the Securities, and the Guarantor shall pay to each affected Holder, upon demand, the amount that would otherwise have been due and payable had the exercise of such rights and remedies been permitted. In the event of any such application of the automatic stay under Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Securities shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for purposes of the Guarantee.
12.1.8 The Guarantor hereby agrees that, unless and until all obligations with respect to the Securities and this Indenture have been paid in full, in its capacity as guarantor, it shall have no right (whether direct or indirect) of subrogation (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) to the claims of any Holder or the Trustee against the Company or any other person who became an “obligor” under the Securities or this Indenture in respect of any obligation with respect to the Securities or this Indenture, notwithstanding any payment or payments made by the Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of the Guarantor by the Holder; and the Guarantor hereby waives all contractual, statutory and common law rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity it may have against the Company or any other such person as the case may be, and any and all other rights of payment or recovery from the Company or any other such person, as the case may be, that it may now have or hereafter acquire until all Securities and all obligations under this Indenture have been paid in full (in which event such rights of payment or recovery shall be deemed to be in the form of a loan or loans made from the Guarantor to the Company or any other such person, as the case may be). The Guarantor further agrees that, in its capacity as guarantor, as between the
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Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the Securities guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI of this Indenture for the purposes of the Guarantor’s Guarantee hereunder, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Securities guaranteed pursuant to this Article XII, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Securities as provided in Article VI of this Indenture, such Securities (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Guarantee hereunder.
12.1.9 Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Article XII with respect to the release of the Guarantor from its Guarantee hereunder, such Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantor and the successors thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of (and be enforceable by) the Trustee and the Holders from time to time, or their respective successors or assignees, until this Indenture shall have been terminated and the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities, and the obligations of the Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, have been satisfied by payment in full.
12.1.10 Payments made by the Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee hereunder will be made to each Holder in the same manner, and to the same location, as payments to such Holder are required to be made pursuant to the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture.
12.1.11 The Guarantor shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) paid or incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in connection with the enforcement of the Guarantee or any other rights of the Trustee or such Holder under this Indenture and the Securities with respect to such Guarantee and the prosecution or defense of any action by or against any of the Holders in connection with the Guarantee or this Indenture with respect to such Guarantee, whether involving the Guarantor or any other person, including a trustee in bankruptcy; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall have no such obligation in connection with any action brought by any Holder against the Guarantor to the extent that the Guarantor is the prevailing party in the judgment rendered in any such action; and provided further that the Guarantor shall not be responsible for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (in addition to any required local counsel).
12.1.12 The Guarantor may, by execution and delivery to the Trustee of a supplemental indenture, be released from its Guarantee upon the sale or other transfer of no less than a majority of its capital stock or of all or substantially all of its assets to an entity that is not a Subsidiary of the Guarantor and which sale or other transfer is otherwise in compliance with Article V of this Indenture, which release shall be effective without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. Upon any such release, the Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a written request by the Guarantor accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate of the Company certifying as to compliance with this Section 12.1.12. Any actions taken pursuant to this Section 12.1.12 shall not release the Company as a primary obligor under this Indenture or the Securities.
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12.1.13 The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article XII shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence on any Security of a notation relating to such Guarantee.
ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS; CERTAIN TAX PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.1 Redemption Upon Changes in Withholding Taxes.
Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.2, the Securities of any Series may be redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice (which notice shall be irrevocable), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date and Additional Amounts (as defined in Section 13.2), if any, if as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws, regulations, rulings or treaties of the United Kingdom, the United States or other jurisdiction in which the Company or the Guarantor or, in each case, any successor thereof (including a successor person formed by a consolidation with the Company or the Guarantor, into which the Company or the Guarantor is merged, or that acquires or leases all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or the Guarantor) may be incorporated, organized, or otherwise resident for tax purposes, or engaged in business for tax purposes, as applicable, or any political subdivision thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantor (a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws, regulations, rulings or treaties, including any action taken by, or change in the published administrative practice of, a taxing authority or a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction (regardless of whether such action, change or holding is with respect to the Company or the Guarantor), which amendment or change is announced or becomes effective on or after the date the Securities of such Series are issued, the Company or the Guarantor has become, or there is a substantial probability that it will become, obligated to pay Additional Amounts on the next date on which any amount would be payable with respect to the Securities of such Series (but, in the case of the Guarantor, only if the payment giving rise to such requirement cannot be made by the Company), and such obligation cannot be avoided by the use of commercially reasonable measures available to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a new paying agent but not including substitution of the obligor on the Securities; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, would be obligated, or there is a substantial probability the Company or the Guarantor would otherwise be obligated, to pay such Additional Amount. Prior to the publication or, where relevant, mailing (and/or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, electronic delivery) of any notice of redemption described in this paragraph, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, taking commercially reasonable measures available to it, as described above, and (ii) a written opinion of independent tax counsel to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, of recognized standing to the effect that the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has or there is a substantial probability that it will
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become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a change, amendment, official interpretation or application described above.
SECTION 13.2 Payment of Additional Amounts.
All payments made by the Company or the Guarantor under or with respect to the Securities and the Guarantee will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of any Taxing Jurisdiction (“Taxes”), unless the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law or by the interpretation or administration thereof. In the event that the Company or the Guarantor is required to so withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of any Taxes from any payment made under or with respect to the Securities or the Guarantee, as the case may be, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary so that the net amount received by each holder of Securities (including Additional Amounts) after such withholding or deduction will equal the amount that such Holder would have received if such Taxes had not been required to be withheld or deducted; provided that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to a payment to a holder of Securities or a holder of beneficial interests in Global Securities where such holder is subject to taxation on such payment by a relevant Taxing Jurisdiction for or on account of:
(a) any Taxes that are imposed or withheld solely because such holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such holder holds such Securities) or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or other equity owner of, or possessor of a power over, such holder (or beneficial owner) if such holder (or beneficial owner) is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity:
(i) is or was present or engaged in, or is or was treated as present or engaged in, a trade or business in the Taxing Jurisdiction or has or had a permanent establishment in the Taxing Jurisdiction (in each case, other than the mere fact of ownership of such Securities, without another presence or business in such Taxing Jurisdiction);
(ii) has or had any present or former connection (other than the mere fact of ownership of such Securities) with the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes, including being or having been a national citizen or resident thereof, being treated as being or having been a resident thereof or being or having been physically present therein;
(iii) (in relation to payments by the Guarantor only) is or was a personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company, a controlled foreign corporation, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax exempt organization or corporation that has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax; or
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(iv) (in relation to payments by the Guarantor only) actually or constructively owns or owned 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Guarantor within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the Code;
(b) Taxes imposed on any holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the Securities, or a portion thereof, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled to the payment of an Additional Amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner, or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;
(c) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar Taxes imposed with respect to the Securities, except as otherwise provided herein;
(d) any Taxes imposed solely as a result of the presentation of such Securities (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the beneficiary or holder thereof would have been entitled to the payment of Additional Amounts had the Securities been presented for payment on any date during such 30-day period;
(e) any Taxes imposed or withheld solely as a result of the failure of such holder or any other person to comply with applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, or identity of such holder or connection with any Taxing Jurisdiction by such holder, if such compliance is required by statute, regulation, ruling or administrative practice of the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or by any applicable tax treaty to which the relevant Taxing Jurisdiction is a party as a precondition to relief or exemption from such Taxes;
(f) any Taxes that are payable by any method other than withholding or deduction by the Company or the Guarantor or any paying agent from payments in respect of such Securities;
(g) any Taxes required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment in respect of any Securities if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;
(h) any withholding or deduction required pursuant to sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, official interpretations thereof, any intergovernmental agreement, or any law, rule, guidance or administrative practice implementing an intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with such sections of the Code; or
(i) any combination of Section 13.2(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h).
The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will also (i) make such withholding or deduction of Taxes and (ii) remit the full amount of Taxes so deducted or withheld to the
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relevant Taxing Jurisdiction in accordance with all applicable laws. The Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each taxing authority imposing such Taxes. The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will, upon request, make available to the holders of the Securities, within 90 days after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld is due pursuant to applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by the Company or the Guarantor or if, notwithstanding the Company’s or the Guarantor’s efforts to obtain such receipts, the same are not obtainable, other evidence of such payments by the Company or the Guarantor.
At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Securities or the Guarantee is due and payable, if the Company or the Guarantor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, the Company or the Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the fact that such Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information as is necessary to enable such Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to holders of Securities on the payment date.
In addition, the Company will pay any stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes and duties, including interest, penalties and Additional Amounts with respect thereto, payable in the United Kingdom or the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the foregoing in respect of the creation, issue, offering, enforcement, redemption or retirement of the Securities.
The provisions of this Article XIII shall survive any termination or the discharge of this Indenture and shall apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which the Company or the Guarantor or any successor person to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is organized or is engaged in business for tax purposes or any political subdivisions or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein; provided, however, the date on which the Company or the Guarantor changes its jurisdiction or such Person becomes a successor to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be substituted for the date on which the Series of Securities was issued.
Whenever in this Indenture, the Securities or the Guarantee there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal and premium, if any, redemption price, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Security, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC, as Issuer | ||
| By: | ____________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| OMNICOM GROUP INC., as Guarantor | ||
| By: | ____________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ____________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| By: | ____________________________ | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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Form of Face of Security
[Title of Series]
[If the Security is a Global Security, insert the following legend: THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.7 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
[Insert any legend required by applicable securities laws and regulations or the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]
No. _____
[CUSIP] [Common Code] [ISIN] _____
[$]____________
A-1
OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company,” which term includes any successor person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ [Dollars] [if other than Dollars, substitute other Currency or Currency units] on _________, ____ [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - and to pay interest thereon from _________ or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid] or duly provided for, [semi-annually on _________ and in each year] [If other than semi-annual payments, insert frequency of payments and payment dates], commencing ____________, at [If the Security is to bear interest at a fixed rate, insert - the rate of ____% per annum, set forth below] [If the Security is to bear interest at a variable or floating rate and if determined with reference to an index, refer to description of index below] until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [If applicable, insert - and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate of ____% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more predecessor securities) is registered at the close of business on the [regular] record date for such interest, which shall be the _________ or _________ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such [regular] record date and may either be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more predecessor securities) is registered at the close of business on a [special] record date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this Series not less than 10 days prior to such [special] record date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this Series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture).
[If the Securities are floating or adjustable rate securities with respect to which the principal of or any premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, insert the text of the floating or adjustable rate provision.]
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert - The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert - any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
A-2
purpose in ______________, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof in immediately available funds; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security register).
This Security is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Omnicom Group Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (the “Guarantor”), as provided in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
This Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of said state [other than with respect to any subordinated Debt, in which case the subordination provisions specified in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate of the Company or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of this subordinated Security only shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales].
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| Dated: | OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC |
| By: | ||
| By: |
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Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Signatory | ||
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Form of Reverse of Security.
OMNICOM FINANCE HOLDINGS PLC
[Title of Series]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company, designated as its _________ due _________ (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more Series under an Indenture, dated as of _________, [as amended by, [insert description of any applicable supplemental indentures]], herein [collectively] called the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantor and _________, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________]. Capitalized terms used in this Security and not defined herein have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Indenture.
_________, the Trustee under the Indenture has been appointed by the Company as paying agent, registrar, [conversion agent] and [custodian] with regard to the Securities.
In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of and accrued interest on all Securities may be declared, and upon said declaration, shall become due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided for in the Indenture.
[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this Series are subject to redemption upon not less than 15 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail (or electronic delivery in accordance with the procedures of the Depository), [if applicable, insert - (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the year ______ and ending with the year ______ through operation of the sinking fund for this Series at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [on or after _________, ____] as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before _________, ____% and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,
| Redemption Year | Price | Redemption Year | Price |
and thereafter at a redemption price equal to ___________ of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert - (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the redemption date, but interest installments whose
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stated Maturity is on or prior to such redemption date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more predecessor securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this Series are subject to redemption upon not less than 15 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail (or electronic delivery in accordance with the procedures of the Depository), (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the year ______ and ending with the year ______ through operation of the sinking fund for this Series at the redemption prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after _________], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the redemption prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning _________ of the years indicated,
|
Redemption
Price For |
Redemption
Price For |
Sinking Fund |
and thereafter at a redemption price equal to ____% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the redemption date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity in on or prior to such redemption date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more predecessor securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[The sinking fund for this Series provides for the redemption on ________ in each year beginning with the year _______ and ending with the year _______ of [not less than $________ “mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $________ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this Series. Securities of this Series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [in the inverse order in which they become due).]]
[If the Security is subject to redemption, insert - In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this Series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
The Indenture contains provisions that permit the Company to elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from the entire indebtedness of this Security or (2) to be released from its
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obligations under certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon payment in full of the Securities and compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
[If the Security is convertible into or exchangeable for common stock of the Guarantor, insert appropriate provisions and specify the conversion features and the form of conversion notice pursuant to the Form of Conversion Notice set forth herein.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this Series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this Series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue-Discount Security, insert - If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this Series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this Series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to - Insert formula for determining the amount.
Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this Series shall terminate.]
[If Security is subordinate Debt, insert - The Company and each Holder of the Securities of this Series, by accepting such Securities, agree that the payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities is subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate of the Company] creating this Series, to the prior payment in full of all present and future Senior Debt, as defined in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate of the Company] and that the subordination provisions in the applicable [supplemental indenture][Officer’s Certificate of the Company] relating to this Series of Securities are for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt. Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee in his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.]
The Indenture permits the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each Series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of each Series to be affected, with certain exceptions as therein provided with respect to certain modifications or amendments which may not be made without the consent of each Holder of such Security affected thereby. The Indenture also permits certain amendments and modifications thereto from time to time by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any Series of the Securities to be affected thereby
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for certain specified purposes, including curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies and making any such change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder of such Series of the Securities, as provided therein.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each Series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such Series, to waive compliance by the Company or the Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences with respect to such Series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and Interest on this Security at the times, place and [rate(s)], and in the coin or Currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the security register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this Series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this Series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $__________ and integral multiples of $__________ in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this Series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this Series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator,
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stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, the Guarantor or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
A-9
Exhibit 5.1
250 Vesey street • new york, new york 10281-1047
TELEPHONE: +1.212.326.3939 • FACSIMILE: +1.212.755.7306
February 19, 2020
Omnicom Group Inc.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Omnicom Finance Holdings plc
Bankside 3, 90-100 Southwark Street
London, SE1 0SW, United Kingdom
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed by Omnicom Group Inc. and Omnicom Finance Holdings plc |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Omnicom Group Inc., a New York corporation (“OGI”), and Omnicom Finance Holdings plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (“OFHP”), in connection with the authorization of the issuance and sale from time to time, on a delayed basis, (i) by OGI of debt securities of OGI (the “U.S. Debt Securities”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (as defined below), (ii) by OFHP of debt securities of OFHP (the “International Debt Securities”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, (iii) by OGI of OGI’s guarantee of OFHP’s obligations in respect of any International Debt Securities issued by OFHP (the “Guarantee”) and (iv) by OGI of: (A) shares of common stock, par value $.15 per share, of OGI (the “Common Stock”); (B) shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of OGI (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock; (C) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”); and (D) subscription rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Warrants (“Subscription Rights”), in each case, as contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion has been filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”). The U.S. Debt Securities, the International Debt Securities, the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Guarantee, the Warrants and the Subscription Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of this opinion. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The U.S. Debt Securities, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration therefor as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of OGI, enforceable against OGI in accordance with their terms.
2. The International Debt Securities, upon receipt by OFHP of such lawful consideration therefor as OFHP’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of OFHP, enforceable against OFHP in accordance with their terms.
3. The shares of Common Stock, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value therefor as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4. The shares of Preferred Stock, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value therefor as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
|
ALKHOBAR · AMSTERDAM · ATLANTA · BEIJING · BOSTON · BRISBANE · BRUSSELS · CHICAGO · CLEVELAND · COLUMBUS · DALLAS
DETROIT · DUBAI · DÜSSELDORF · FRANKFURT · HONG KONG · HOUSTON · IRVINE · LONDON · LOS ANGELES · MADRID · MELBOURNE
MEXICO CITY · MIAMI · MILAN · MINNEAPOLIS · MOSCOW · MUNICH · NEW YORK · PARIS · PERTH · PITTSBURGH · RIYADH
SAN DIEGO · SAN FRANCISCO · SÃO PAULO · SHANGHAI · SILICON VALLEY · SINGAPORE · SYDNEY · TAIPEI · TOKYO · WASHINGTON |
| Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom Finance Holdings plc February 19, 2020 Page 2 |  |
5. The Guarantee, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of OGI, enforceable against OGI in accordance with its terms.
6. The Warrants, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration therefor as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of OGI.
7. The Subscription Rights, upon receipt by OGI of such lawful consideration therefor as OGI’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of OGI.
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective (and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder); (ii) a prospectus supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities will have been established in accordance with the authorizing resolutions adopted by each of OGI’s and OFHP’s Board of Directors, as applicable (or an authorized committee thereof), OGI’s restated certificate of incorporation (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and applicable law; (iv) OFHP and OGI, as applicable, will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security, will have been authorized and reserved for issuance, in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities; (v) the resolutions authorizing OGI and OFHP to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by OGI’s and OFHP’s Board of Directors, as applicable (or an authorized committee thereof), and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by OFHP and OGI, as applicable; (vi) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; and (vii) any U.S. Debt Indenture, International Debt Indenture, Warrant Agreement or Subscription Rights Agreement (each as defined below) will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of U.S. Debt Securities, we have further assumed that: (i) such U.S. Debt Securities will have been issued pursuant to an indenture (the “U.S. Debt Indenture”), in a form approved by us, that has been authorized, executed and delivered by OGI and one or more entities selected by OGI to act as trustee (the “U.S. Debt Trustee”), and the U.S. Debt Indenture will have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “TIA”); (ii) all terms of such U.S. Debt Securities not provided for in the U.S. Debt Indenture will have been established in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Debt Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by OGI and the U.S. Debt Trustee; and (iii) such U.S. Debt Securities will be executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Debt Indenture.
With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of International Debt Securities, we have further assumed that: (i) such International Debt Securities and any related Guarantee will have been issued pursuant to an indenture (the “International Debt Indenture”), in a form approved by us, that has been authorized, executed and delivered by OFHP, OGI and one or more entities selected by OFHP to act as trustee (the “International Debt Trustee”), and the International Debt Indenture will have been qualified under the TIA; (ii) all terms of such International Debt Securities and any related Guarantee not provided for in the International Debt Indenture will have been established in accordance with the provisions of the International Debt Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by OFHP, OGI and the International Debt Trustee; and (iii) such International Debt Securities and any related Guarantee will be executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the International Debt Indenture.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Preferred Stock, we have further assumed that OGI will issue and deliver the shares of the Preferred Stock being issued and delivered after the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York of a certificate of amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, approved by us,
| Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom Finance Holdings plc February 19, 2020 Page 3 | |
establishing the designations, preferences and rights of the class or series of the Preferred Stock being issued and delivered.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that: (i) the warrant agreement, approved by us, relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between OGI and an entity selected by OGI to act as the warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by OGI and the Warrant Agent; and (ii) the Warrants will be authorized, executed and delivered by OGI and the Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Subscription Rights, we have further assumed that: (i) the subscription rights agreement, approved by us, relating to the Subscription Rights (the “Subscription Rights Agreement”) to be entered into between OGI and an entity selected by OGI to act as the subscription rights agent (the “Subscription Rights Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by OGI and the Subscription Rights Agent; and (ii) the Subscription Rights will be authorized, executed and delivered by OGI and the Subscription Rights Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Rights Agreement.
For purposes of our opinion set forth in paragraph 2, we have further assumed that (i) OFHP is, and will be at the time of issuance of any International Debt Securities, a public limited company existing and in good standing under the laws of England and Wales, (ii) the International Debt Securities (A) will have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of OFHP and (B) will have been executed and delivered by OFHP under the laws of England and Wales and (iii) the execution, delivery, performance and compliance with the terms and provisions of the International Debt Securities by OFHP do not violate or conflict with the laws of England and Wales or the terms and provisions of OFHP’s Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association, or any rule, regulation, order, decree judgment, instrument or agreement binding upon or applicable to OFHP or its properties.
The opinions set forth in paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 are limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws, and related regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and (ii) general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or equity.
As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of OGI, OFHP and others. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption “Validity of Securities” in the prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Jones Day |
Exhibit 5.2
AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY
SRA NO. 223597
21 TUDOR STREET · LONDON EC4Y 0DJ · DX 67 LONDON/CHANCERY
TELEPHONE: 020.7039.5959 · FACSIMILE: 020.7039.5999
| Ref/CAM | JP004982/799841-601004 | ||
| esaxton@jonesday.com | |||
| Direct | 020 7039 5162 | ||
| Date | 19 February 2020 |
Omnicom Finance Holdings plc
Bankside 3 90 - 100 Southwark Street
London, England
SE1 0SW
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed by Omnicom Finance Holdings plc and Omnicom Group Inc. relating to the Registration (as defined below)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as English counsel to Omnicom Finance Holdings plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Issuer”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion has been filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed registration (the “Registration”) under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) of debt securities of the Issuer (the “Debt Securities”), which, if issued, will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Omnicom Group Inc. (the “Company”). The Debt Securities, if issued, will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the Company and one or more entities selected by the Issuer to act as trustee in respect of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities, if issued, will be guaranteed by the Company.
1. SCOPE OF REVIEW AND RELIANCE
The following agreements and other related documents have been examined (items (a) through (e), inclusive, are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Opinion Documents”):
(a) a form of the Indenture included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (including the forms of Debt Securities set out in the Indenture);
(b) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer, and a copy of the Articles of Association of the Issuer, in each case, available on the website of the Registrar of Companies (the “Articles of Association”);
| Continued 2 |  |
(c) a certified copy of the minutes (the “Minutes”) of a meeting of the board of directors of the Issuer held on 13 February 2020 at which the directors of the Issuer, amongst other things, passed resolutions (the “Resolutions”) relating to the Opinion Documents;
(d) the Registration Statement; and
(e) a certificate of good standing issued by the Registrar of Companies in respect of the Issuer dated 18 February 2020.
We have not reviewed any documents other than the ones set out in items (a) through (e), inclusive, above. The Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Debt Securities are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”.
2. ASSUMPTIONS
We have assumed that, so far as the laws of every jurisdiction other than England and Wales are concerned, all restrictions, laws, guidelines, regulations or reporting requirements that apply to the Indenture and any issue of Debt Securities thereunder have been or will be complied with and that such laws do not qualify or affect our opinion as set out below.
We have also made the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified or established and on which we express no opinion:
(a) insofar as any obligation falls to be performed in any jurisdiction outside England, its performance will not be illegal or ineffective by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;
(b) all signatures on the executed documents which, or copies (whether photocopies, certified copies, facsimile copies or electronic copies) of which, we have examined are genuine, and that such copies conform to the original documents executed;
(c) each of the parties to the Transaction Documents, other than the Issuer, is able lawfully to enter into such Transaction Documents
(d) that each corporate party (other than the Issuer) is duly organised, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is legally relevant) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the capacity, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its respective obligations under the Transaction Documents;
(e) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents have been or will be duly authorised by each of the parties thereto, other than the Issuer, that such documents have been or will be duly executed and unconditionally delivered by each of the relevant parties thereto with effect from the date it is expressed to be effective and is not or will not be (when delivered) subject to any escrow or similar arrangement and that such documents shall constitute the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of each of such parties in accordance with all applicable laws (other than the laws of England and Wales in the case of the Debt Securities);
(f) each of the parties to the Transaction Documents who is carrying on, or purporting to carry on, any regulated activity in the United Kingdom is an authorised person permitted to carry on that relevant regulated activity or an exempt person in respect of that regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and no such agreement was or will be entered into in consequence of a communication made in breach of section 21(1) of the FSMA;
| Continued 3 |  |
(g) the Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, in a form approved by us, that has been authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, the Company and one or more entities selected by the Issuer to act as trustee, and the Debt Securities will be duly prepared and completed in accordance with the provisions and arrangements contained or described in the Indenture and will be in the form of the Debt Securities as provided for and set out in the Indenture;
(h) the Articles of Association of the Issuer, which we have examined, are those in force and the Resolutions which we have examined were passed at a board meeting of the Issuer duly convened and held and that a duly qualified quorum of directors voted in favour of approving the Resolutions, and that the facts on which the Minutes were based were true and the directors’ decisions were taken in good faith and on reasonable grounds for believing that the transactions contemplated thereby would be most likely to promote the success of the Issuer for the benefit of its members as a whole and that the Resolutions have not been subsequently amended, rescinded, modified, superseded or revoked and are in full force and effect and the certifications referred to in 1(b) to (c) above are true and accurate;
(i) the issue of Debt Securities will not cause any limit on borrowings to which the Issuer is subject to be exceeded;
(j) the absence of mutual mistake of fact or of any other arrangements, documents, agreements or course of dealing between any of the parties to the Transaction Documents which modify or supersede any of their terms or that would result in the inclusion of any additional terms in any of them;
(k) that each of the Transaction Documents has been entered into, and the transactions referred to therein are carried out, by each of the parties in good faith, for the purpose of carrying on their respective businesses (and, in the case of the Issuer, in furtherance of its objects, whether contained in its Articles of Association or otherwise), for the benefit of each of them respectively and on arm's length commercial terms;
(l) that each of the Transaction Documents has not been entered into in consequence of fraud, coercion, duress, misrepresentation or undue influence or on the basis of a mistake of fact or law or believing that the Transaction Documents are fundamentally different in substance or in kind from what it is, or in connection with money laundering or any other unlawful activity;
(m) the truth, accuracy, correctness and completeness of all statements, representations and warranties as to matters of fact contained in the Opinion Documents and that all the terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents will be observed and performed by all the parties thereto
(n) the Issuer is neither an authorised person nor an exempt person in relation to the regulated activity of accepting deposits under the FSMA;
(o) no request will be made to admit any Debt Securities to trading on a regulated market situated or operating in the United Kingdom;
| Continued 4 |  |
(p) no steps have been, or will be, taken to have the Registration Statement treated as an approved prospectus under section 87H of the FSMA;
(q) all documents presented to us as originals are true and accurate and all documents submitted to us as copies conform with the originals and that any documents in draft or specimen form which we have examined for the purposes hereof will not change when it will be or has been executed;
(r) none of the parties to the Transaction Documents is unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or would otherwise be insolvent pursuant to any legislation applicable to it at the time of executing any of the Transaction Documents, and will not, as a consequence of executing any of the Transaction Documents, become unable to pay its debts within the meaning of that section or otherwise be insolvent pursuant to any applicable legislation;
(s) all consents, approvals, notices, filings, publications and registrations that are necessary under any applicable laws or regulations (other than the laws of England and Wales) in order to permit the execution, delivery or performance of the Transaction Documents or to protect or preserve any of the interests (whether by way of security or otherwise) created by the Transaction Documents have been made or obtained or will be made or obtained within the period permitted by these laws or regulations;
(t) that the choice of law provisions relating to each Transaction Document were made for bona fide purposes and are valid and binding under all relevant laws (other than the laws of England and Wales) and that none of the opinions expressed below would be affected by any law or public policy of any jurisdiction other than England;
(u) that in respect of a judgment entered in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Transaction Documents such judgment was entered by the relevant New York court which had jurisdiction to determine such suit, action or proceeding;
(v) that the information revealed by our online search of 17 February 2020 and updated on 18 February 2020 of the public documents of the Issuer kept at Companies House in Cardiff (the "Company Search") was accurate in all respects and has not since then been altered or added to;
(w) that the information revealed by our oral enquiry of today of the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions (the "Enquiry") was accurate in all respects and has not since then been altered or added to;
(x) no part of the Transaction Documents will constitute unlawful financial assistance for the purposes of section 678 or section 679 of the Companies Act 2006; and
(y) the meaning of the terms of the Transaction Documents would not differ from the meaning of the terms of the Transaction Documents if governed by English law.
3. LIMITATIONS
Our opinion is confined solely to English law in force, published and applied by the English courts at the date of this opinion.
The Indenture and the Debt Securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. We have made no investigation of such laws and do not express or imply any opinion on such laws. In addition, we have assumed that, so far as the laws of the State of New York and US securities laws are concerned, the Indenture and the Debt Securities will, on issue in accordance with the Indenture, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer and that such laws do not qualify or affect our opinion as set out below.
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4. OPINIONS
4.1 The Issuer is a public limited company duly incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006.
4.2 The Issuer has corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Indenture and to issue and perform its obligations under the Debt Securities.
4.3 The issue of the Debt Securities has been duly authorised by the Issuer and when (a) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and (b) the Debt Securities have been duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered in the manner provided in the Indenture, we would expect the English courts to recognise the choice of law of New York law as the governing law of the Debt Securities and to enforce by separate action a final and conclusive judgment (which does not re-open an earlier judgment from the same jurisdiction) for a definite sum of money or for a sum of money ascertainable by arithmetical calculation (in either case not being a sum payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty), entered against the Issuer in connection with the enforcement of the Debt Securities in civil proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York.
5. QUALIFICATIONS
Nothing in this opinion shall be taken as implying that an English court would exercise jurisdiction in any proceedings relating to the Indenture or the Debt Securities or accordingly that any remedy would be available in England for the enforcement of obligations arising under the Indenture or the Debt Securities.
This opinion is subject to the following:
(a) We express no opinion as to matters of fact.
(b) The Company Search is not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not (i) a winding up order has been made or a resolution passed for the winding up of a company, (ii) (ii) an administration order has been made, or (iii) a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or liquidator has been appointed, since notice of these matters may not be filed with the Registrar of Companies immediately and, when filed, may not be entered on the public database or recorded on the public microfiches of the relevant company immediately. In addition, the Company Search is not capable of revealing, prior to the making of the relevant order, whether or not a winding up petition has been presented or an application for an administration order has been made nor will the search conclusively reveal whether a charge or other restriction or prohibition has been created in relation to the real property owned by the relevant party.
(c) The Enquiry relates only to a compulsory winding up and is not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding up petition in respect of a compulsory winding up has been presented, since details of the petition may not have been entered on the records of the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions immediately or, in the case of a petition presented to a County Court, may not have been notified to the Central Registry and entered on such records at all, and the response to an enquiry only relates to current petitions (and not those which may have been subsequently withdrawn or otherwise dealt with)
(d) Laws relating to liquidation or administration or other laws or procedures affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights may affect any obligations of the Issuer under the Transaction Documents and the remedies available.
(e) An English court may, in its discretion, order a claimant in an action who is not ordinarily resident in some part of England and Wales to provide security for costs.
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(f) The Registration Statement has been prepared by the Issuer and the Company, who have accepted responsibility for the information contained therein. We have not investigated or verified the truth or accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement, nor have we been responsible for ensuring that no material information has been omitted from it.
(g) An English Court will not apply a chosen foreign law if: (i) it is not pleaded and proved; (ii) to do so would be contrary to the mandatory rules of English law or of such chosen foreign law or manifestly incompatible with English public policy; or (iii) the choice is not valid under the chosen law.
(h) There are no reciprocal arrangements in force between the State of New York or the United States of America and the United Kingdom for the recognition or enforcement of judgments. Accordingly, a judgment by the courts of the State of New York, United States of America or, as the case may be, any federal court of the United States of America (each such court being a “US Court”) is not enforceable directly in England but may be recognised by the English courts according to common law principles. A judgment by a US Court will not be enforced by the English courts if:
(i) that US Court had no jurisdiction, as a matter of English law, over the defendant;
(ii) the proceedings in which the judgment was given were opposed to natural justice;
(iii) the judgment was obtained by fraud;
(iv) the enforcement of the judgment would be contrary to English public policy or the Human Rights Act 1998;
(v) an order has been made and remains effective under section 9 of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 applying that section to judgments of that US Court;
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(vi) before the date on which the US Court gave judgment, the matter in dispute had been the subject of a final judgment of another court having jurisdiction between the same parties or their privies, that judgment is enforceable in England, and that judgment conflicts with the judgment intended to be enforced in England;
(vii) the judgment is for multiple damages within the meaning of section 5(3) of the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 or based on a claim for contribution in respect of the same;
(viii) the judgment is based on a rule of law specified by the Secretary of State as concerned with the prohibition of restrictive trade practices or based on a claim for contribution in respect of the same;
(ix) the judgment is based on foreign measures which the Secretary of State specifies as regulating and controlling international trade and which, in so far as they apply to persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom, are damaging or threaten to damage the trading interests of the United Kingdom; or
(x) the bringing of proceedings in that US Court was contrary to an agreement under which the dispute in question was to be settled otherwise than by proceedings in that US Court.
If the English court gives judgment for the
sum payable under a judgment of the courts of the State of New York, the English judgment would be enforceable by the methods generally
available for the enforcement of English judgments. These give the court a discretion whether to allow enforcement by any particular
method. In addition, it may not be possible to obtain an English judgment or to enforce any English judgment if the
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judgment debtor is subject to any insolvency or similar proceedings, if there is delay, if an appeal is pending or anticipated against the English judgment in England or against the foreign judgment in the courts of the State of New York or if the judgment debtor has any set-off or counterclaim against the judgment creditor.
Furthermore, there is doubt as to the enforceability in England and Wales of US judgments in respect of civil judgments predicated purely on US securities law.
(i) No account has been taken in this opinion of the future exercise of powers by the UK Government pursuant to section 5(4) of the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980.
(j) We express no opinion as to compliance or otherwise with the financial limitations on borrowings by the Issuer contained in the Articles of Association.
(k) We give no opinion as to tax.
(l) We have not considered the particular circumstances of any party to the Transaction Documents nor the effect of any such particular circumstances on the Transaction Documents or the effect of the transaction contemplated by the Transaction Documents on any such particular circumstances.
This opinion is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law as at today's date, and is given to the Issuer in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Debt Securities.
This opinion is rendered to you and is solely for your benefit in connection with the transactions covered hereby. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or furnished to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose, without our prior written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Validity of Securities” in the prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
This opinion is given on the basis of English law in force, published and applied by the English courts at the date of this opinion and on the basis that there has been no amendment to, or termination or replacement of, any of the documents examined by us and no change in any of the facts assumed by us for the purposes of giving this opinion. It is also given on the basis that we have no obligation to notify any addressee of this opinion of any change in English law or its application after the date of this opinion. We have made no investigation of, and therefore express or imply no opinion as to, the laws of any other territory or as to the application of English law or any other law by any other courts. To the extent that the laws of any jurisdiction other than England may be relevant, we have made no independent investigation thereof and our opinion is subject to the effect of such laws.
Yours faithfully,
/s/ Jones Day
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors of
Omnicom Group Inc.:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) of Omnicom Group Inc. and Omnicom Finance Holdings plc of our report dated February 11, 2020 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related financial statement schedule II (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, which report appears in the December 31, 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Omnicom Group Inc. and subsidiaries and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Registration Statement.
Our report on the consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for leases effective January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, Leases.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 19, 2020
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
______________________________
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| NEW YORK | 13-4941247 | |
| (Jurisdiction of Incorporation or | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| organization if not a U.S. national bank) | Identification no.) | |
| 60 WALL STREET | ||
| NEW YORK, NEW YORK | 10005 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: Mirko Mieth
Legal Department
60 Wall Street, 36th Floor
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250 – 1663
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Omnicom Group
Inc.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| New York | 13-1514814 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
| 437 Madison Avenue | ||
| New York, New York | 10022 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture securities)
| Item 1. | General Information. |
| Furnish the following information as to the trustee. |
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Name | Address |
| Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District) | New York, NY |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
| New York State Banking Department | Albany, NY |
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
| Yes. |
| Item 2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
| If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
| None. |
| Item 3. -15. | Not Applicable |
| Item 16. | List of Exhibits. |
| Exhibit 1 - | Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 31, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 18, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 3, 1999; and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated March 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 2 - | Certificate of Authority to commence business, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 3 - | Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 4 - | Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, approved March 29, 2019. | |
| Exhibit 5 - | Not applicable. | |
| Exhibit 6 - | Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 7 - | A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. | |
| Exhibit 8 - | Not Applicable. | |
| Exhibit 9 - | Not Applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this 12th day of February, 2020.
| DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | |||
| /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas | |||
| By: | Name: Bridgette Casasnovas | ||
| Title: Vice President | |||
Exhibit 4
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Company”) shall be held in the City of New York within the State of New York within the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year, on such date and at such time and place as the board of directors of the Company (“Board of Directors” or “Board”) may designate in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 1.02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be called by the President or by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, at such times. If for a period of thirteen months after the last annual meeting, there is a failure to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the Company, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting for the election of directors within two weeks after the expiration of such period; otherwise, holders of record of ten percent (10%) of the shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote in an election of directors may, in writing, demand the call of a special meeting at the office of the Company for the election of directors, specifying the date and month thereof, but not less than two nor more than three months from the date of such call. At any such special meeting called on demand of stockholders, the stockholders attending, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote in an election of directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors, but not for the transaction of any other business.
Section 1.03. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than 10 nor more than 50 days before the date of such meeting (or any other action) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote, at his post office address appearing upon the records of the Company or at such other address as shall be furnished in writing by him to the Secretary of the Company for such purpose. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law or by these By-Laws. Any meeting may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 1.04. Quorum. The holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of the stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders; if there be no such quorum, the holders of a majority of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained.
Section 1.05. Organization of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, if he is not present, by the President or, if he is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, if present.
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Section 1.06. Voting. At each meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, every holder of record of stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of such stock standing in his name on the records of the Company. Elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast thereat and, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, all other action shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
At all elections of directors, the voting shall be by ballot or in such other manner as may be determined by the stockholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at such election.
Section 1.07. Action by Consent. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Company’s Organization Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if, prior to such action, a written consent or consents thereto, setting forth such action, is signed by all the holders of record of shares of the stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 2.01. Chairman of the Board. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board shall appoint one of its members as Chairman. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.02. Lead Independent Director. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board may appoint one of its independent members as its Lead Independent Director. When the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Lead Independent Director, if there be one, shall preside.
Section 2.03. Director Emeritus. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect one or more Directors Emeritus. Each Director Emeritus shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting. No Director Emeritus shall be considered a "director" for purposes of these By-Laws or for any other purpose.
Section 2.04. Powers, Number, Quorum, Term, Vacancies, Removal. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
The number of directors may be changed by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, but at all times the Board of Directors must consist of not less than seven nor more than thirty directors. No more than one-third of the directors shall be active officers or employees of the Company. At least one-half of the directors must be citizens of the United States at the time of their election and during their continuance in office.
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Except as otherwise required by law, rule or regulation, or by the Company’s Organization Certificate, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as applicable. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or video, or other similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Whether or not a quorum shall be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time; notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment, but if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced, no additional notice shall be required to be given to the directors present at the time of adjournment.
Directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified. Director vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.
Any one or more of the directors of the Company may be removed either with or without cause at any time by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, and thereupon the term of the director or directors who shall have been so removed shall forthwith terminate and there shall be a vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors, to be filled by a vote of the stockholders as provided in these By-Laws.
Section 2.05. Meetings, Notice. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of New York, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board, or as may be specified in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee shall be held as often as may be required under applicable law, and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of two directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than two days before such meeting. Any meeting may be held without notice, if all directors are present, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 2.06. Compensation. The Board of Directors may determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation, which shall be paid to its members. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to allow a fixed sum and expenses for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, or of any committee of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to provide for and pay to directors rendering services to the Company not ordinarily rendered by directors, as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services, as determined by the Board from time to time.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.01. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board who shall be appointed annually by resolution adopted by the majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his
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absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.
Section 3.02. Audit and Fiduciary Committee. There shall be an Audit and Fiduciary Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of independent directors, as may from time to time be fixed by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.03. Other Committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees. Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.04. Limitations. No committee shall have the authority as to the following matters: (i) the submission to stockholders of any action that needs stockholders' authorization under New York Banking Law; (ii) the filling of vacancies in the Board of Directors or in any such committee; (iii) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board of Directors or on any committee; (iv) the amendment or repeal of these By-Laws, or the adoption of new by-laws; (v) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable; or (vi) the taking of action which is expressly required by any provision of New York Banking Law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by a specified proportion of the directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Titles and Election. The officers of the Company, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors within twenty-five days after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall be a President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a General Auditor. The Board of Directors from time to time may elect one or more Managing Directors, Directors, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, and may define their powers and duties. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.
Section 4.02. Terms of Office. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed, and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.
Section 4.03. Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.05. Vacancies. If the office of any officer or agent becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the Board of Directors may choose a successor, who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
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Section 4.06. President. The President shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the President of the Company. In the absence of the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. The President shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the president of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07. Chief Executive Officer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties usual to the chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general management and control of the affairs and business of the Company; he shall appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Company (other than officers elected by the Board of Directors); he shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; he shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.08. Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the responsibility for the risk management and monitoring of the Company. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to his office and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for reporting to the Board of Directors on the financial condition of the Company, preparing and submitting all financial reports required by applicable law, and preparing annual financial statements of the Company and coordinating with qualified third party auditors to ensure such financial statements are audited in accordance with applicable law.
Section 4.10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the directors whenever they may require it an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company.
Section 4.11. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of proceedings in records or books to be kept for that purpose. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the secretary of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have and be the custodian of the stock records and all other books, records and papers of the Company (other than financial) and shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed.
Section 4.12. General Auditor. The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit and Fiduciary Committee, to the Board of Directors for the determination of the program of the
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internal audit function and the evaluation of the adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or required by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have the duty to report to the Audit and Fiduciary Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which the Audit and Fiduciary Committee may request.
Section 4.13. Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents. If chosen, the Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise all of the powers and duties of the President. Such Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and they shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to their respective offices and as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 4.14. Duties of Officers may be Delegated. In case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the Board may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer to any other officer.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
Section 5.01. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company served in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Company, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which such person reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 5.02. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
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against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification under this Section 5.02 shall be made in respect of (a) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (b) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 5.03. Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only if authorized in the specific case (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be; or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be, has been met by such director or officer; or (y) by the stockholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be. A person who has been successful on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Sections 5.01 or 5.02, shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such section.
Section 5.04. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 5.03, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 5.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be.
Section 5.05. Serving an Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of the Company. For the purpose of this Article V, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
Section 5.06. Indemnification upon Application to a Court. Notwithstanding the failure of the Company to provide indemnification and despite any contrary resolution of the Board or stockholders under Section 5.03, or in the event that no determination has been made within ninety
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days after receipt of the Company of a written claim therefor, upon application to a court by a director or officer, indemnification shall be awarded by a court to the extent authorized in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02. Such application shall be upon notice to the Company. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.03 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct.
Section 5.07. Expenses Payable in Advance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount (i) if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article V, (ii) where indemnification is granted, to the extent expenses so advanced by the Company or allowed by a court exceed the indemnification to which such person is entitled and (iii) upon such other terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. Any such advancement of expenses shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding, or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel or (y) by the stockholders and, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to revoke at any time any approval previously granted in respect of any such request for the advancement of expenses or to, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose limits or conditions in respect of any such approval.
Section 5.08. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses granted pursuant to, or provided by, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled whether contained in the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws or, when authorized by the Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, (i) a resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled. Nothing contained in this Article V shall affect any rights to indemnification to which corporate personnel other than directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Section 5.09. Insurance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance (in a single contract or supplement thereto, but not in a retrospective rated contract): (i) to indemnify the Company for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of this Article V, (ii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V and applicable law, and (iii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York Superintendent of Financial Services, for a retention amount and for co-insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such insurance shall be subject to the provisions of, and the Company shall comply with the requirements set forth in, Section 7023 of the New York State Banking Law.
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Section 5.10. Limitations on Indemnification and Insurance. All indemnification and insurance provisions contained in this Article V are subject to any limitations and prohibitions under applicable law, including but not limited to Section 7022 (with respect to indemnification, advancement or allowance) and Section 7023 (with respect to insurance) of the New York State Banking Law and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (with respect to administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by any federal banking agency). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, no indemnification, advancement or allowance shall be made (i) to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled, or (ii) in any circumstance where it appears (a) that the indemnification would be inconsistent with a provision of the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws, a resolution of the Board or of the stockholders, an agreement or other proper corporate action, in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the threatened or pending action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or (b) if there has been a settlement approved by the court, that the indemnification would be inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly imposed by the court in approving the settlement.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, but subject to any requirements of applicable law, (i) except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5.06), the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his testators intestate) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) with respect to indemnification or advancement of expenses relating to attorneys’ fees under this Article V, counsel for the present or former director or officer must be reasonably acceptable to the Company (and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, establish a panel of approved law firms for such purpose, out of which the present or former director or officer could be required to select an approved law firm to represent him), (iii) indemnification in respect of amounts paid in settlement shall be subject to the prior consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld), (iv) any and all obligations of the Corporation under this Article V shall be subject to applicable law, (v) in no event shall any payments pursuant to this Article V be made if duplicative of any indemnification or advancement of expenses or other reimbursement available to the applicable director or officer (other than for coverage maintained by such person in his individual capacity), and (vi) no indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be provided under these By-Laws to any person in respect of any expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to the extent incurred by such person in his capacity or position with another entity (including, without limitation, an entity that is a stockholder of the Company or any of the branches or affiliates of such stockholder), except as expressly provided in these By-Laws in respect of such person’s capacity and position as a director or officer of the Company or such person is a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
Section 5.11. Indemnification of Other Persons. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to an adoption of a policy or otherwise) to employees and agents of the Company (whether similar to those conferred in this Article V upon directors and officers of the Company or on other terms and conditions authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors), as well as to employees of direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and to other persons (or categories of persons) approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
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Section 5.12. Repeal. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VI
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 6.01. Certificates. The interest of each stockholder of the Company shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Managing Director or a Director or a Vice President and by the Secretary, or the Treasurer, or an Assistant Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer, sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof, and countersigned and registered in such manner, if any, as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or registered by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.
Section 6.02. Transfer. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferred only upon the books of the Company by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Company or its agents may reasonably require.
Section 6.03. Record Dates. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not less than 10 nor more than 50 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the distribution or allotment of any rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to receive any distribution or allotment of such rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, and in such case only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
Section 6.04. Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate of stock is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate of the same tenor and for the same number of shares in lieu thereof. The Board may in its discretion, before the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the legal representative of the owner to make an affidavit or affirmation setting forth such facts as to the loss, destruction or mutilation as it deems necessary and to give the Company a bond in such reasonable sum as it directs to indemnify the Company.
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ARTICLE VII
CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.
Section 7.01. Checks, Notes, Etc. All checks and drafts on the Company's bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, may be signed by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President and may also be signed by such other officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 8.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be from January 1 to December 31, unless changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.02. Books. There shall be kept at such office of the Company as the Board of Directors shall determine, within or without the State of New York, correct books and records of account of all its business and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders, Board of Directors and committees, and the stock book, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number of shares held by them, respectively, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof, and in which the transfer of stock shall be registered, and such other books and records as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 8.03. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, all stock owned by the Company, other than stock of the Company, shall be voted, in person or by proxy, by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President of the Company on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.01. Amendments. The vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall be necessary at any meeting of stockholders to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws. These By-Laws may also be amended or repealed, or new by-laws adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors by the vote of at least a majority of the entire Board, provided that any by-law adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the stockholders in the manner set forth above.
Any proposal to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws shall be stated in the notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders or in the waiver of notice thereof, as the case may be, unless all of the directors or the holders of record of all of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote are present at such meeting.
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Exhibit 7
Exhibit 25.2
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
______________________________
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| NEW YORK | 13-4941247 | |
| (Jurisdiction of Incorporation or | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| organization if not a U.S. national bank) | Identification no.) | |
| 60 WALL STREET | ||
| NEW YORK, NEW YORK | 10005 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: Mirko Mieth
Legal Department
60 Wall Street, 36th Floor
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250 – 1663
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Omnicom Finance Holdings plc
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| England and Wales | Not Applicable | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
| Bankside 3, 90-100 Southwark Street | ||
| London, SE1 0SW, United Kingdom | ||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture securities)
| Item 1. | General Information. |
| Furnish the following information as to the trustee. | |
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Name | Address |
| Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District) | New York, NY |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
| New York State Banking Department | Albany, NY |
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
| Yes. | |
| Item 2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
| If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
| None. |
| Item 3. -15. | Not Applicable |
| Item 16. | List of Exhibits. |
| Exhibit 1 - | Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 31, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 18, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 3, 1999; and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated March 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 2 - | Certificate of Authority to commence business, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 3 - | Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 4 - | Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, approved March 29, 2019. | |
| Exhibit 5 - | Not applicable. | |
| Exhibit 6 - | Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. | |
| Exhibit 7 - | A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. | |
| Exhibit 8 - | Not Applicable. | |
| Exhibit 9 - | Not Applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this 12th day of February, 2020.
| DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | |||
| /s/ Bridgette Casasnovas | |||
| By: | Name: Bridgette Casasnovas | ||
| Title: Vice President | |||
Exhibit 4
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Company”) shall be held in the City of New York within the State of New York within the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year, on such date and at such time and place as the board of directors of the Company (“Board of Directors” or “Board”) may designate in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 1.02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be called by the President or by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, at such times. If for a period of thirteen months after the last annual meeting, there is a failure to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the Company, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting for the election of directors within two weeks after the expiration of such period; otherwise, holders of record of ten percent (10%) of the shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote in an election of directors may, in writing, demand the call of a special meeting at the office of the Company for the election of directors, specifying the date and month thereof, but not less than two nor more than three months from the date of such call. At any such special meeting called on demand of stockholders, the stockholders attending, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote in an election of directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors, but not for the transaction of any other business.
Section 1.03. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than 10 nor more than 50 days before the date of such meeting (or any other action) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote, at his post office address appearing upon the records of the Company or at such other address as shall be furnished in writing by him to the Secretary of the Company for such purpose. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law or by these By-Laws. Any meeting may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 1.04. Quorum. The holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of the stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders; if there be no such quorum, the holders of a majority of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained.
Section 1.05. Organization of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, if he is not present, by the President or, if he is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, if present.
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Section 1.06. Voting. At each meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, every holder of record of stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of such stock standing in his name on the records of the Company. Elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast thereat and, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, all other action shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
At all elections of directors, the voting shall be by ballot or in such other manner as may be determined by the stockholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at such election.
Section 1.07. Action by Consent. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Company’s Organization Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if, prior to such action, a written consent or consents thereto, setting forth such action, is signed by all the holders of record of shares of the stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 2.01. Chairman of the Board. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board shall appoint one of its members as Chairman. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.02. Lead Independent Director. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board may appoint one of its independent members as its Lead Independent Director. When the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Lead Independent Director, if there be one, shall preside.
Section 2.03. Director Emeritus. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect one or more Directors Emeritus. Each Director Emeritus shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting. No Director Emeritus shall be considered a "director" for purposes of these By-Laws or for any other purpose.
Section 2.04. Powers, Number, Quorum, Term, Vacancies, Removal. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
The number of directors may be changed by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, but at all times the Board of Directors must consist of not less than seven nor more than thirty directors. No more than one-third of the directors shall be active officers or employees of the Company. At least one-half of the directors must be citizens of the United States at the time of their election and during their continuance in office.
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Except as otherwise required by law, rule or regulation, or by the Company’s Organization Certificate, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as applicable. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or video, or other similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Whether or not a quorum shall be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time; notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment, but if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced, no additional notice shall be required to be given to the directors present at the time of adjournment.
Directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified. Director vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.
Any one or more of the directors of the Company may be removed either with or without cause at any time by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, and thereupon the term of the director or directors who shall have been so removed shall forthwith terminate and there shall be a vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors, to be filled by a vote of the stockholders as provided in these By-Laws.
Section 2.05. Meetings, Notice. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of New York, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board, or as may be specified in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee shall be held as often as may be required under applicable law, and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of two directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than two days before such meeting. Any meeting may be held without notice, if all directors are present, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 2.06. Compensation. The Board of Directors may determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation, which shall be paid to its members. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to allow a fixed sum and expenses for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, or of any committee of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to provide for and pay to directors rendering services to the Company not ordinarily rendered by directors, as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services, as determined by the Board from time to time.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.01. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board who shall be appointed annually by resolution adopted by the majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his
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absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.
Section 3.02. Audit and Fiduciary Committee. There shall be an Audit and Fiduciary Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of independent directors, as may from time to time be fixed by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.03. Other Committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees. Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.04. Limitations. No committee shall have the authority as to the following matters: (i) the submission to stockholders of any action that needs stockholders' authorization under New York Banking Law; (ii) the filling of vacancies in the Board of Directors or in any such committee; (iii) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board of Directors or on any committee; (iv) the amendment or repeal of these By-Laws, or the adoption of new by-laws; (v) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable; or (vi) the taking of action which is expressly required by any provision of New York Banking Law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by a specified proportion of the directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Titles and Election. The officers of the Company, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors within twenty-five days after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall be a President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a General Auditor. The Board of Directors from time to time may elect one or more Managing Directors, Directors, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, and may define their powers and duties. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.
Section 4.02. Terms of Office. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed, and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.
Section 4.03. Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.05. Vacancies. If the office of any officer or agent becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the Board of Directors may choose a successor, who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
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Section 4.06. President. The President shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the President of the Company. In the absence of the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. The President shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the president of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07. Chief Executive Officer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties usual to the chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general management and control of the affairs and business of the Company; he shall appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Company (other than officers elected by the Board of Directors); he shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; he shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.08. Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the responsibility for the risk management and monitoring of the Company. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to his office and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for reporting to the Board of Directors on the financial condition of the Company, preparing and submitting all financial reports required by applicable law, and preparing annual financial statements of the Company and coordinating with qualified third party auditors to ensure such financial statements are audited in accordance with applicable law.
Section 4.10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the directors whenever they may require it an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company.
Section 4.11. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of proceedings in records or books to be kept for that purpose. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the secretary of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have and be the custodian of the stock records and all other books, records and papers of the Company (other than financial) and shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed.
Section 4.12. General Auditor. The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit and Fiduciary Committee, to the Board of Directors for the determination of the program of the
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internal audit function and the evaluation of the adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or required by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have the duty to report to the Audit and Fiduciary Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which the Audit and Fiduciary Committee may request.
Section 4.13. Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents. If chosen, the Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise all of the powers and duties of the President. Such Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and they shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to their respective offices and as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 4.14. Duties of Officers may be Delegated. In case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the Board may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer to any other officer.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
Section 5.01. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company served in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Company, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which such person reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 5.02. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
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against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification under this Section 5.02 shall be made in respect of (a) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (b) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 5.03. Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only if authorized in the specific case (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be; or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be, has been met by such director or officer; or (y) by the stockholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be. A person who has been successful on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Sections 5.01 or 5.02, shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such section.
Section 5.04. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 5.03, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 5.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be.
Section 5.05. Serving an Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of the Company. For the purpose of this Article V, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
Section 5.06. Indemnification upon Application to a Court. Notwithstanding the failure of the Company to provide indemnification and despite any contrary resolution of the Board or stockholders under Section 5.03, or in the event that no determination has been made within ninety
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days after receipt of the Company of a written claim therefor, upon application to a court by a director or officer, indemnification shall be awarded by a court to the extent authorized in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02. Such application shall be upon notice to the Company. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.03 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct.
Section 5.07. Expenses Payable in Advance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount (i) if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article V, (ii) where indemnification is granted, to the extent expenses so advanced by the Company or allowed by a court exceed the indemnification to which such person is entitled and (iii) upon such other terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. Any such advancement of expenses shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding, or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel or (y) by the stockholders and, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to revoke at any time any approval previously granted in respect of any such request for the advancement of expenses or to, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose limits or conditions in respect of any such approval.
Section 5.08. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses granted pursuant to, or provided by, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled whether contained in the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws or, when authorized by the Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, (i) a resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled. Nothing contained in this Article V shall affect any rights to indemnification to which corporate personnel other than directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Section 5.09. Insurance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance (in a single contract or supplement thereto, but not in a retrospective rated contract): (i) to indemnify the Company for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of this Article V, (ii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V and applicable law, and (iii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York Superintendent of Financial Services, for a retention amount and for co-insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such insurance shall be subject to the provisions of, and the Company shall comply with the requirements set forth in, Section 7023 of the New York State Banking Law.
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Section 5.10. Limitations on Indemnification and Insurance. All indemnification and insurance provisions contained in this Article V are subject to any limitations and prohibitions under applicable law, including but not limited to Section 7022 (with respect to indemnification, advancement or allowance) and Section 7023 (with respect to insurance) of the New York State Banking Law and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (with respect to administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by any federal banking agency). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, no indemnification, advancement or allowance shall be made (i) to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled, or (ii) in any circumstance where it appears (a) that the indemnification would be inconsistent with a provision of the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws, a resolution of the Board or of the stockholders, an agreement or other proper corporate action, in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the threatened or pending action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or (b) if there has been a settlement approved by the court, that the indemnification would be inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly imposed by the court in approving the settlement.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, but subject to any requirements of applicable law, (i) except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5.06), the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his testators intestate) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) with respect to indemnification or advancement of expenses relating to attorneys’ fees under this Article V, counsel for the present or former director or officer must be reasonably acceptable to the Company (and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, establish a panel of approved law firms for such purpose, out of which the present or former director or officer could be required to select an approved law firm to represent him), (iii) indemnification in respect of amounts paid in settlement shall be subject to the prior consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld), (iv) any and all obligations of the Corporation under this Article V shall be subject to applicable law, (v) in no event shall any payments pursuant to this Article V be made if duplicative of any indemnification or advancement of expenses or other reimbursement available to the applicable director or officer (other than for coverage maintained by such person in his individual capacity), and (vi) no indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be provided under these By-Laws to any person in respect of any expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to the extent incurred by such person in his capacity or position with another entity (including, without limitation, an entity that is a stockholder of the Company or any of the branches or affiliates of such stockholder), except as expressly provided in these By-Laws in respect of such person’s capacity and position as a director or officer of the Company or such person is a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
Section 5.11. Indemnification of Other Persons. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to an adoption of a policy or otherwise) to employees and agents of the Company (whether similar to those conferred in this Article V upon directors and officers of the Company or on other terms and conditions authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors), as well as to employees of direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and to other persons (or categories of persons) approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
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Section 5.12. Repeal. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VI
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 6.01. Certificates. The interest of each stockholder of the Company shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Managing Director or a Director or a Vice President and by the Secretary, or the Treasurer, or an Assistant Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer, sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof, and countersigned and registered in such manner, if any, as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or registered by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.
Section 6.02. Transfer. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferred only upon the books of the Company by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Company or its agents may reasonably require.
Section 6.03. Record Dates. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not less than 10 nor more than 50 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the distribution or allotment of any rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to receive any distribution or allotment of such rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, and in such case only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
Section 6.04. Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate of stock is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate of the same tenor and for the same number of shares in lieu thereof. The Board may in its discretion, before the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the legal representative of the owner to make an affidavit or affirmation setting forth such facts as to the loss, destruction or mutilation as it deems necessary and to give the Company a bond in such reasonable sum as it directs to indemnify the Company.
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ARTICLE VII
CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.
Section 7.01. Checks, Notes, Etc. All checks and drafts on the Company's bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, may be signed by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President and may also be signed by such other officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 8.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be from January 1 to December 31, unless changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.02. Books. There shall be kept at such office of the Company as the Board of Directors shall determine, within or without the State of New York, correct books and records of account of all its business and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders, Board of Directors and committees, and the stock book, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number of shares held by them, respectively, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof, and in which the transfer of stock shall be registered, and such other books and records as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 8.03. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, all stock owned by the Company, other than stock of the Company, shall be voted, in person or by proxy, by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President of the Company on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.01. Amendments. The vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall be necessary at any meeting of stockholders to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws. These By-Laws may also be amended or repealed, or new by-laws adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors by the vote of at least a majority of the entire Board, provided that any by-law adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the stockholders in the manner set forth above.
Any proposal to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws shall be stated in the notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders or in the waiver of notice thereof, as the case may be, unless all of the directors or the holders of record of all of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote are present at such meeting.
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Exhibit 7