Public Service Enterprise Group Inc S-3ASR, filed Nov 6, 2026
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (PEG)
On November 6, 2026, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated established a shelf registration to offer common stock, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, and senior and subordinated debt securities from time to time. AI summary
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE
GROUP INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
| NEW JERSEY | 22-2625848 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
80 PARK PLAZA
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102
(973) 430-7000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
DANIEL J. CREGG
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
80 PARK PLAZA
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102
(973) 430-7000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
WITH COPIES TO:
GRACE H. PARK, ESQUIRE
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
80 PARK PLAZA
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public: From time to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement contains the following separate prospectuses:
1. A form of prospectus to be used in connection with offerings by Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated of its Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities.
2. A form of prospectus to be used in connection with offerings of Common Stock by Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated pursuant to its Enterprise Direct Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
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PROSPECTUS
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
Common Stock, Preferred Stock,
Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units,
Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (“PSEG”) may offer from time to time the securities described in this prospectus separately or together in any combination, in one or more classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.
PSEG will provide the specific terms of each series or issue of securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus relating to such offering, and the documents incorporated herein and therein before you make any decision to invest in the securities.
PSEG’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “PEG.”
PSEG will sell the securities directly, through agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time, or through a combination of such methods. If any such agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents, underwriters or dealers and any applicable agent’s commission, underwriter’s discount or dealer’s purchase price and the net proceeds to PSEG from such sale will be set forth in, or may be calculated on the basis set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution” for possible indemnification arrangements for any such agents, underwriters and dealers.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of any of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investing in PSEG’s securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the information in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, as well as the risk factors contained in PSEG’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference into this prospectus before you invest.
The date of this prospectus is November 6, 2026.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that PSEG filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus or combinations thereof in one or more offerings. Each time PSEG sells these securities, it will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering.
As allowed by the SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement including its exhibits and documents incorporated by reference. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of its provisions.
You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus, including in each case, information incorporated by reference together with any additional information you may need to make your investment decision. You should also read and carefully consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in “Where You Can Find More Information” below. Information in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus or that is incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus is considered a part of this prospectus and may add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus relating to an offering. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with other information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may have changed since that date.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise stated, or the context otherwise requires, references to “PSEG,” “we,” “us” and “our” are to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries.
We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time:
| • | shares of our common stock, without par value; |
| • | shares of our preferred stock, without par value, which may be convertible into our common stock; |
| • | stock purchase contracts to purchase shares of our common stock; |
| • | unsecured debt securities, which may include senior and subordinated securities and which may be convertible into our common stock. In this prospectus, we refer to the debt securities, which may include senior and subordinated debt securities, as the “debt securities”; and |
| • | stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and our debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including United States Treasury securities, that are pledged to secure the stock purchase unit holders’ obligations under the stock purchase contracts. |
We sometimes refer to our common stock, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and the debt securities, collectively, as the “securities.”
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. Our filings are available to the public over the Internet on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, as well as on our website at investor.pseg.com. None of the information contained at any time on our website is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will be deemed to automatically update and supersede this incorporated information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that have been filed with the SEC:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025; |
| • | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026, June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026; |
| • | Information in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 12, 2026 that is incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025; |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2026, April 23, 2026 and June 3, 2026, and our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 23, 2026; and |
| • | The description of our common stock in our registration statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as updated by Exhibit 4c to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and any further amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description. |
We also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of any particular offering of securities, except, in each case, for Current Reports on Form 8-K containing only disclosure furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits relating to such disclosure, unless otherwise specifically stated in the Form 8-K or the prospectus supplement for such offering.
You can get a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference by making an oral or written request directed to:
Vice President, Investor Relations
PSEG Services Corporation
80 Park Plaza, 4th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone (973) 430-7000
This prospectus or other offering materials may contain or incorporate by reference statements about our and our subsidiaries’ future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences and all other statements that are not purely historical that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used herein, the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,”
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“expect,” “plan,” “should,” “hypothetical,” “potential,” “forecast,” “project,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in filings we make with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These factors include, but are not limited to:
| • | any inability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, or construct transmission and distribution, and our nuclear generation projects; |
| • | significant resource adequacy challenges that present affordability and reliability concerns and that could cause policymakers to implement responsive measures that could have a material, adverse impact on our business, strategy, growth rates, cash flows, results of operations, and financial condition and increase regulatory uncertainty for utility investment initiatives and programs; |
| • | the physical, financial and transition risks related to climate change, including risks relating to potentially increased legislative and regulatory burdens, changing customer preferences and lawsuits; |
| • | any equipment failures, gas explosions, accidents, critical operating technology or business system failures, natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war, terrorism or other acts of violence, sabotage, physical attacks or security breaches, cyberattacks or other incidents that may impact our ability to provide safe and reliable service to our customers; |
| • | any inability to recover the carrying amount of our long-lived assets; |
| • | disruptions or cost increases in our supply chain, including labor shortages; |
| • | any inability to maintain sufficient liquidity or access sufficient capital on commercially reasonable terms; |
| • | the impact of cybersecurity attacks or intrusions or other disruptions to our information technology, operational or other systems; |
| • | failure to attract and retain a qualified workforce; |
| • | increases in the costs of equipment, materials, fuel, services and labor; |
| • | the impact of our covenants in our debt instruments and credit agreements on our business; |
| • | adverse performance of our defined benefit plan trust funds and Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund and increases in funding requirements; |
| • | any inability to enter into or extend certain significant contracts; |
| • | development, adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence by us and our third-party vendors; |
| • | fluctuations in, or third-party default risk in wholesale power and natural gas markets, including the potential impacts on the economic viability of our generation units; |
| • | the ability to obtain adequate nuclear fuel supply; |
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| • | changes in technology related to energy generation, distribution and consumption and changes in customer usage patterns; |
| • | third-party credit risk relating to our sale of nuclear generation output and purchase of nuclear fuel; |
| • | any inability to meet our commitments under forward sale obligations and Regional Transmission Organization rules; |
| • | risks associated with generation activities at, and operation of, the Peach Bottom plants, which are similar to those to which nuclear generation plants that we operate are subject; |
| • | the impact of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations on our business, including the ability of Public Service Electric and Gas Company (“PSE&G”) to recover costs and earn returns on authorized investments; |
| • | PSE&G’s proposed investment projects or programs may not be fully approved by regulators and its capital investment may be lower than planned; |
| • | our ability to receive sufficient financial support for our New Jersey nuclear plants from the markets, and/or production tax credits; |
| • | adverse changes in and non-compliance with energy industry laws, policies, regulations and standards, including market structures and transmission planning and transmission returns; |
| • | risks associated with our ownership and operation of nuclear facilities, including increased nuclear fuel storage costs, regulatory risks, such as compliance with the Atomic Energy Act and trade control, environmental and other regulations, as well as operational, financial, environmental and health and safety risks; |
| • | changes in or violation of federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and enforcement; |
| • | delays in receipt of, or an inability to receive, necessary licenses and permits and siting approvals; and |
| • | changes in tax laws and regulations. |
Additional information concerning these factors is set forth or referred to under “Risk Factors.”
All of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and the other offering materials are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or other offering materials apply only as of the date of this prospectus or such other offering materials. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the other offering materials are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
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PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
We are a public utility holding company that, acting through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a predominantly regulated electric and gas utility and a nuclear generation business. Our operations are located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Our business approach focuses on operational excellence, financial strength and disciplined investment. As a holding company, our profitability depends on our subsidiaries’ operating results. We have two principal direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries:
| • | PSE&G, which is a public utility engaged principally in the transmission of electricity and distribution of electricity and natural gas in certain areas of New Jersey; and |
| • | PSEG Power LLC, which is an energy supply company that consists of the operations of merchant nuclear generating assets and fuel supply functions engaged in competitive energy sales via its principal direct wholly-owned subsidiaries. |
Our other direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries are:
| • | PSEG Energy Holdings L.L.C., which primarily holds lease investments and competitively bid, FERC regulated transmission; |
| • | PSEG Long Island LLC, which operates the Long Island Power Authority’s electric transmission and distribution system under an Operations Services Agreement; and |
| • | PSEG Services Corporation, which provides certain management, administrative and general services to us and our subsidiaries at cost. |
PSEG is a New Jersey corporation with its principal offices located at 80 Park Plaza, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Its telephone number is (973) 430-7000.
In addition to the risk factors contained in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other periodic reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as those risk factors that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus, prospective investors should carefully consider the risks described below before making a decision to invest in the securities. Such factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and on the trading price of our securities. Such factors could affect actual results and cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Because PSEG is a Holding Company, its Ability to Service its Debt Could be Limited
PSEG is a holding company with no material assets other than the stock or membership interests of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, all of PSEG’s operations are conducted by its subsidiaries which are separate and distinct legal entities that have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay the debt of PSEG or to make any funds available to PSEG to pay such debt or satisfy its other corporate funding needs. As a result, PSEG’s debt will effectively be subordinated to all existing and future preferred equity and liabilities of its subsidiaries, including holders of their debt, trade creditors, secured creditors, taxing authorities and guarantee holders, and PSEG’s rights and hence the rights of PSEG’s creditors to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors and preferred equity holders, except to the extent that PSEG’s claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized.
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PSEG depends on its subsidiaries’ cash flows and access to capital in order to service its indebtedness and satisfy its other corporate funding needs. The debt agreements of PSEG’s subsidiaries generally restrict their ability to pay dividends, make cash distributions or otherwise transfer funds to PSEG. These restrictions may include achieving and maintaining financial performance or debt coverage ratios, absence of events of default, or priority in payment of other current or prospective obligations. PSEG’s subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make cash distributions or otherwise transfer funds to PSEG may also be limited or restricted by regulatory considerations or applicable law.
PSEG’s subsidiaries have financed and may in the future finance some investments using non-recourse project level financing. Each non-recourse project level financing is structured to be repaid out of cash flows provided by the investment. In the event of a default under a financing agreement which is not cured, the lenders would generally have rights to the related assets. In the event of foreclosure after a default, PSEG’s subsidiary may lose its equity in the asset or may not be entitled to any cash that the asset may generate. Although a default under a project financing agreement is not expected to cause a default with respect to PSEG’s debt, other debt of the applicable subsidiary, if any, or debt of PSEG’s other subsidiaries, it may materially affect PSEG’s ability to service its outstanding indebtedness and satisfy its other corporate funding needs.
We can give no assurances that our current and future capital structure, operating performance or financial condition will permit us to access the capital markets or to obtain other financing at the times, in the amounts and on the terms necessary or advisable for us to successfully carry out our business strategy or to service our indebtedness and satisfy our other corporate funding needs.
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Unless we state otherwise in the prospectus supplement for a particular offering, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be added to our general funds and will be used for general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue from time to time one or more series of the senior debt securities under our Senior Debt Indenture dated as of November 1, 1998 between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Senior Trustee, or one or more series of the subordinated debt securities under our Subordinated Debt Indenture to be entered into between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Subordinated Trustee. The term “Trustee” refers to either the Senior Trustee or the Subordinated Trustee, as appropriate. We will provide information about these debt securities in a prospectus supplement.
The Senior Debt Indenture and the form of Subordinated Debt Indenture (sometimes together referred to as the “Indentures” and, individually, as an “Indenture”) are incorporated by reference or filed, as the case may be, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The Indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the Indentures. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the Indentures. We urge you to read the Indenture that governs your debt securities for provisions that may be important to you.
In this section, references to “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated without its consolidated subsidiaries.
Provisions Applicable to Both the Senior and Subordinated Indentures
General
The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations. The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior indebtedness as described below under “— Subordinated Debt Indenture Provisions.”
Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, holders of our debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors, including trade creditors, debt holders, secured creditors, taxing authorities and guarantee holders, and any preferred stockholders of those subsidiaries other than, in each case, where we are recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary. Our subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their business activities. See “Risk Factors.”
Each Indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the relevant prospectus supplement may be issued in an unlimited amount under that Indenture in one or more series, in each case as authorized by us from time to time.
You should read the relevant prospectus supplement for a description of the material terms of each series of debt securities being offered, including:
| • | the title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities; |
| • | the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series; |
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| • | if less than the principal amount of the debt securities is payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities, the portion that will be payable or how this portion will be determined; |
| • | the date or dates, or how the date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable; |
| • | the rate or rates of interest, which may be fixed or variable, that the debt securities will bear, if any, or how the rate or rates will be determined; |
| • | the terms of any remarketing of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities will accrue or how the date or dates will be determined; |
| • | the interest payment dates, if any, and the record dates for any interest payments or how the date or dates will be determined; |
| • | the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payment periods and the duration of any extension or deferral; |
| • | any optional redemption provisions; |
| • | any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued as registered securities, bearer securities or both and any applicable restrictions; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and any applicable restrictions or limitations; |
| • | the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable and to whom and how those payments will be made; |
| • | whether the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities and, if so, the applicable terms and conditions; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable, if other than $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof in the case of registered securities and $5,000 in the case of bearer securities; |
| • | the index, formula or other method, if any, with reference to which the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities will be determined and the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
| • | if other than the applicable Trustee, the identity of each security registrar and/or paying agent; |
| • | the applicability of the provisions of the applicable Indenture described below under “— Satisfaction and Discharge, Full Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of these provisions; |
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| • | whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option); |
| • | any deletions, additions or changes in the events of default in the applicable Indenture and any change in the right of the applicable Trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable; |
| • | any deletions, additions or changes in the covenants in the applicable Indenture; |
| • | the applicability of or any change in the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture for a series of subordinated debt securities; |
| • | any provisions granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events; and |
| • | any other material terms of the debt securities. |
If applicable, the prospectus supplement will also set forth information concerning any other securities offered thereby and a discussion of federal income tax considerations relevant to the securities being offered.
For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the debt securities will include the payment of any additional amounts required by the terms of the debt securities.
Debt securities may provide for less than the entire principal amount to be payable upon acceleration of the maturity date (“original issue discount securities”). Federal income tax and other matters concerning any original issue discount securities will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither Indenture limits the amount of debt securities that may be issued in distinct series from time to time. Debt securities issued under an Indenture are referred to, when a single Trustee is acting as trustee for all debt securities issued under an Indenture, as the “indenture securities.” Each Indenture provides that there may be more than one Trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of indenture securities. See “— Resignation of Trustee” below. At a time when two or more Trustees are acting under either Indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term indenture securities will mean the one or more series with respect to which each respective Trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one Trustee under either Indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each Trustee as described herein will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is Trustee. If two or more Trustees are acting under either Indenture, then the indenture securities for which each Trustee is acting would in effect be treated as if issued under separate indentures.
The general provisions of the Indentures do not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Please refer to the prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.
We have the ability, without the consent of the holders thereof, to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and to reopen a previous series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series, unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.
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Denominations, Registration and Transfer
Debt securities of a series may be issuable solely as registered securities, solely as bearer securities or as both registered securities and bearer securities. The Indentures also provide that debt securities of a series may be issuable in global form. See “— Book-Entry Debt Securities.” Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars (other than global securities, which may be of any denomination) are issuable in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 (in the case of registered securities) and in the denomination of $5,000 (in the case of bearer securities). Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, bearer securities will have interest coupons attached.
Registered securities will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series. If provided in the prospectus supplement, bearer securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons which are in default) of any series may be similarly exchanged for registered securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. If so provided, bearer securities surrendered in exchange for registered securities between a regular record date or a special record date and the relevant date for payment of interest will be surrendered without the coupon relating to that date for payment of interest, and interest will not be payable in respect of the registered security issued in exchange for the bearer security, but will be payable only to the holder of the coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, bearer securities will not be issued in exchange for registered securities.
Registered securities of a series may be presented for registration of transfer and debt securities of a series may be presented for exchange:
| • | at each office or agency required to be maintained by us for payment of that series as described in “— Payment and Paying Agents” below, and |
| • | at each other office or agency that we may designate from time to time for those purposes. |
No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.
We will not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on |
| – | if debt securities of the series are issuable only as registered securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and |
| – | if debt securities of the series are issuable as bearer securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption, or, if debt securities of the series are also issuable as registered securities and there is no publication, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange of any registered security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part; |
| • | exchange any bearer security called for redemption, except to exchange the bearer security for a registered security of that series and like tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption; or |
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| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of that debt security not to be so repaid. |
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, principal, premium, interest and additional amounts, if any, on registered securities will be payable at any office or agency to be maintained by us in Edison, New Jersey and The City of New York, except that at our option interest on an interest payment date may be paid:
| • | by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto appearing in the security register, or |
| • | by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the security register. |
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, payment of any installment of interest due on any interest payment date for registered securities will be made to the person in whose name the registered security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for that interest.
If debt securities of a series are issuable solely as bearer securities or as both registered securities and bearer securities, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to maintain an office or agency:
| • | outside the United States where, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, the principal of and premium, and interest, if any, on the series will be payable, and |
| • | in The City of New York for payments with respect to any registered securities of that series (and for payments with respect to bearer securities of that series in the limited circumstances described below, but not otherwise); |
provided that, if required in connection with any listing of debt securities on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States, we will maintain an office or agency for those debt securities in any city located outside the United States required by the applicable stock exchange. The initial locations of those offices and agencies will be specified in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on bearer securities may be paid by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto with a bank located outside the United States. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, payment of installments of interest on any bearer securities on or before maturity will be made only against surrender of coupons for those interest installments as they mature. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, no payment with respect to any bearer security will be made at any office or agency of ours in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States. However, payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on bearer securities payable in U.S. dollars will be made at the office of our paying agent in The City of New York if payment of the full amount thereof in U.S. dollars at all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.
We may from time to time designate additional offices or agencies, approve a change in the location of any office or agency and, except as provided above, rescind the designation of any office or agency.
Events of Default
The following will constitute events of default under each Indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| • | we do not pay interest on a debt security of that series within 30 days of its due date; |
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| • | we do not pay principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of that series on its due date; |
| • | we do not deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of any debt security of that series; |
| • | we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of the debt securities of that series for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the Trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of that series; |
| • | we file for bankruptcy or a court appoints a custodian or orders our liquidation under any bankruptcy law or certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; and |
| • | any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series occurs. |
We are required to file with the Trustee, annually, an officer’s certificate as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the applicable Indenture. Each Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of a series of any default (except payment defaults on the debt securities of that series) if it considers it in the interest of the holders of debt securities of such series to do so.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of a series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the applicable principal amount of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.
Subject to the provisions of the applicable Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an event of default with respect to debt securities of a series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of the holders of debt securities of that series, unless the holders of the debt securities of that series have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with that request. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and to certain other provisions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series and any related coupons, waive any past default with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default:
| • | in the payment of the principal of, or premium, or interest, if any, on any debt security of that series or any related coupons, or |
| • | relating to a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of that series affected by the modification or amendment. |
Merger or Consolidation
Each Indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or convey or transfer our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, unless either we are the continuing corporation or such corporation or person assumes by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under such Indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder and immediately after the transaction no default shall exist.
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Modification or Waiver
Modification and amendment of each Indenture may be made by us and the Trustee thereunder with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all outstanding indenture securities issued thereunder that are affected by the modification or amendment. The consent of the holder of each outstanding indenture security affected is, however, required to:
| • | change the maturity of the principal of or any installment of principal of or interest on that indenture security; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of, or the rate or amount of interest in respect of, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, that indenture security, or change the manner of calculation thereof; |
| • | change our obligation, if any, to pay additional amounts in respect of that indenture security; |
| • | reduce the portion of the principal of an original issue discount security or indexed security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity date thereof or provable in bankruptcy; |
| • | adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the holder of that indenture security; |
| • | change the place or currency of payment of principal, premium or interest on that indenture security; |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity date, redemption date or repayment date; |
| • | adversely affect any right to convert or exchange that indenture security; |
| • | reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding indenture securities required to amend or waive compliance with certain provisions of the applicable Indenture or to waive certain defaults; |
| • | reduce the requirements for voting or quorum described below; or |
| • | modify any of the foregoing requirements or any of the provisions relating to waiving past defaults or compliance with certain restrictive provisions, except to increase the percentage of holders required to effect any such waiver or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of each indenture security affected thereby. |
In addition, under the Subordinated Indenture, no modification or amendment thereof may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding subordinated indenture security affected thereby, modify any of the provisions of that Indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated indenture securities in a manner adverse to the holders and no such modification or amendment may adversely affect the rights of any holder of senior indebtedness described under the caption “— Subordinated Debt Indenture Provisions” without the consent of that holder of senior indebtedness.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding indenture securities have the right to waive our compliance with certain covenants in the applicable Indenture.
Modification and amendment of each Indenture may be made by the Trustee and us, without the consent of any holder, for any of the following purposes:
| • | to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under such Indenture; |
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| • | to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of indenture securities issued under the Indenture or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the Indenture; |
| • | to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of indenture securities; |
| • | to add to or change any provisions of the Indenture to facilitate the issuance of, or to liberalize the terms of, bearer securities, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of indenture securities in uncertificated form, provided that any such actions do not adversely affect the holders of the indenture securities or any related coupons; |
| • | to change or eliminate any provisions of the Indenture, as long as that change or elimination will become effective only when there are no indenture securities outstanding entitled to the benefit of those provisions; |
| • | to secure the indenture securities under the applicable Indenture pursuant to any requirements of the Indenture, or otherwise; |
| • | to establish the form or terms of indenture securities of any series and any related coupons; |
| • | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one Trustee; |
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of holders of indenture securities of a series issued thereunder or any related coupons in any material respect; or |
| • | to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of indenture securities thereunder, provided that the action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any indenture securities and any related coupons in any material respect. |
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding indenture securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the applicable Indenture or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of indenture securities thereunder,
| • | the principal amount of an original issue discount security that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof, |
| • | the principal amount of an indexed security that may be counted in making such determination will be equal to the principal face amount of the indexed security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to the indexed security pursuant to the Indenture and |
| • | indenture securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the indenture securities or any affiliate of ours or of any other obligor shall be disregarded. |
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding indenture securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the applicable Indenture or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of indenture securities thereunder,
| • | the principal amount of an original issue discount security that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof, |
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| • | the principal amount of an indexed security that may be counted in making such determination will be equal to the principal face amount of the indexed security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to the indexed security pursuant to the Indenture and |
| • | indenture securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the indenture securities or any affiliate of ours or of any other obligor shall be disregarded. |
Each Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of indenture securities of a series if indenture securities of that series are issuable as bearer securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of that series, in any such case upon notice given as provided in the applicable Indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each indenture security affected thereby, as described above, any resolution presented at a meeting at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of that series; except that any resolution with respect to any action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage which is less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of that specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of indenture securities of a series held in accordance with the applicable Indenture will be binding on all holders of indenture securities of that series and any related coupons whether or not present or represented at the meeting. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of a series; except that, if any action is to be taken at the meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of a series, the persons holding or representing that specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of that series will constitute a quorum.
Satisfaction and Discharge, Full Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We may discharge certain of our obligations to holders of debt securities of a series that have not already been delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or are due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the applicable Trustee, in trust, funds in an amount sufficient to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.
Each Indenture provides that, if the series of debt securities provides for it, we may elect either to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such debt securities and any related coupons, with certain limited exceptions (this is called “full defeasance”) or to be released from our obligations under any specified covenant with respect to those debt securities and any related coupons, and any omission to comply with those obligations shall not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to those debt securities and any related coupons (this is called “covenant defeasance”).
In order to effect full defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deposit for the benefit of all holders of the debt securities of the particular series a combination of cash and/or U.S. government securities or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.
A trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the Trustee a legal opinion stating that the holders of the debt securities and any related coupons will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the full defeasance or covenant 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 the full defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, and the legal opinion,
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in the case of full defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable Indenture.
In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and any related coupons and those debt securities and coupons are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of certain events of default with respect to any covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount of funds on deposit with the Trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on those debt securities and coupons at the time of their stated maturity date but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on those debt securities and coupons at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. In such case, we would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
The prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting full defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the debt securities of or within a particular series and any related coupons.
Book-Entry Debt Securities
Debt securities of a series may be issued, in whole or in part, in global form that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form (a “global security”). Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, debt securities that are represented by a global security will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a global security will be made by us to the applicable Trustee and then by the applicable Trustee to the depositary.
We anticipate that any global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), New York, New York, that global securities will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, and that the following provisions will apply to the depositary arrangements with respect to any global securities. Additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangements will be described in the prospectus supplement.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole holder of the debt securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the applicable Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable Indenture. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form; those laws may limit the transferability of beneficial interests in a global security.
If:
| • | DTC is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days following notice to us; |
| • | we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have any debt securities represented by one or more global securities; or |
| • | an event of default under the applicable Indenture has occurred and is continuing, |
then we will issue individual debt securities in certificated form in exchange for the relevant global securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery of
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individual debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and rank, equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such debt securities in certificated form registered in its name. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, debt securities so issued in certificated form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
The following is based on information furnished by DTC and applies to the extent that it is the depositary, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement:
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with it. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among its direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between its direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants of DTC include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC.
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, purchases of debt securities under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for those debt securities on DTC’s records. The beneficial ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security represented by a global security (“beneficial owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a global security representing debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners of a global security representing debt securities will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in a global security, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for those debt securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities representing debt securities deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. (“Cede”), or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of global securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede or such other nominee of DTC do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the global securities representing the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
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If applicable, redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities within a series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in that issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede (nor any other nominee of DTC) will consent or vote with respect to the global securities representing debt securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s MMI procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts book-entry securities are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the global securities representing the debt securities will be made to Cede, or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detailed information from us or the applicable Trustee, on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, the applicable Trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the applicable Trustee, disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
If applicable, a beneficial owner will give notice of any option to elect to have its debt securities purchased or tendered, through its participant, to the applicable Trustee, and will effect delivery of such debt securities by causing the direct participant to transfer the participant’s interest in the global security representing those debt securities, on DTC’s records, to such Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the global security representing those debt securities are transferred by direct participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered debt securities to the applicable Trustee’s account with DTC.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as depositary with respect to debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the applicable Trustee. Under those circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
Unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the underwriters or agents with respect to a series of debt securities issued as global securities will be direct participants in DTC.
None of any underwriter or agent, the Trustees, any applicable paying agent or us will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
Resignation of Trustee
Each Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to the series. In the event that two or more persons are
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acting as Trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under one of the Indentures, each such Trustee shall be a Trustee of a trust thereunder separate and apart from the trust administered by any other Trustee, and any action described herein to be taken by the Trustee may then be taken by each Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is Trustee.
Subordinated Debt Indenture Provisions
Upon any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the Subordinated Debt Indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, but our obligation to make payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities may be made at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by us is received by the Subordinated Trustee or the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness upon this distribution, the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness out of the distributive share of the subordinated debt securities.
By reason of the subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, certain of our general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of the subordinated securities. The Subordinated Indenture provides that the subordination provisions thereof will not apply to money and securities held in trust pursuant to the defeasance provisions of the Subordinated Indenture.
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference therein will set forth the definition of Senior Indebtedness and the approximate amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.
Governing Law
The Indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey.
The Trustee under the Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the Trustee under our Senior Debt Indenture dated as of November 1, 1998 with respect to our senior debt securities, will also be trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture to be entered into with respect to our subordinated debt securities. In the event that the Trustee’s position as trustee under the Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture creates a conflict for the Trustee, under certain circumstances, the Trustee will resign as trustee under either the Senior Debt Indenture or the Subordinated Debt Indenture.
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association is trustee under various indentures relating to our subsidiaries and affiliates. We, our subsidiaries and our affiliates maintain other normal banking relationships, including credit facilities and lines of credit, with an affiliate of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL STOCK
The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of our capital stock. For additional information, refer to the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “Act”), our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and By-Laws, as amended (the “By-Laws”). Our Charter and By-Laws are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
In this section, references to “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated without its consolidated subsidiaries.
Authorized Capital
Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value.
Common Stock
General. The outstanding shares of our common stock are, and any shares of common stock offered by a future prospectus supplement when issued and paid for will be, fully paid and non-assessable.
Dividend Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be lawfully declared from time to time by our board of directors out of our earned surplus and in compliance with the Act, and from legally available funds after payment of all amounts owed on any preferred stock that may be outstanding.
Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held by them on all matters presented to holders of our common stock.
Liquidation Rights. After satisfaction of our creditors and the preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share, ratably, in the distribution of all remaining net assets.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights. Holders of our common stock have no conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to or acquire any of our securities. Our common stock is not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund provisions.
Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PEG.”
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Charter and By-Laws
Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of any class or series of stock having a preference over our common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances, any director may be removed from office without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. The board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office, may remove a director for cause where, in their judgment, the continuation of the director in office would be harmful to us and may suspend the director for a reasonable period pending final determination that cause exists for removal.
Business Combinations. The Charter prohibits certain business combinations with “Interested Shareholders” unless, subject to specified exceptions, the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes: (a) any merger or consolidation of us or any subsidiary with an Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof;
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(b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof of any assets of us or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $25,000,000 or more; (c) the issuance or transfer by us or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any of our securities or any securities of any of our subsidiaries to any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $25,000,000 or more; (d) the adoption of any plan or proposal for our liquidation or dissolution proposed by or on behalf of any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof; or (e) certain reclassification, recapitalization, merger or consolidation transactions that would have the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of our or any of our subsidiaries’ equity or convertible securities which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof. Each such transaction requires the prior approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Generally, an “Interested Shareholder” is any person who is, or during the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was, the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of shares having 10% or more of the votes of the then outstanding voting stock.
Advance Notice Requirements. Stockholders wishing to nominate persons for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting or to propose any business to be considered by our stockholders at an annual meeting must comply with certain advance notice and other requirements set forth in the By-Laws.
Proxy Access. The By-Laws permit an eligible stockholder or group of stockholders to include up to a specified number of director nominees in our proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders. To qualify, the stockholders (or group of up to twenty stockholders) must have continuously owned for at least three years 3% or more of our outstanding common stock as of the date written notice is received by us of such stockholder’s intention to propose director nominees and as of the record date for the annual meeting. The number of stockholder nominees permitted under the proxy access provisions of the By-Laws may not exceed 25% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of a nomination may be delivered.
Notice of a nomination under the proxy access provisions of the By-Laws must generally be submitted to the Secretary no earlier than 150 days and no later than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of our proxy statement in the prior year. The notice must contain certain information specified in the By-Laws.
Board Vacancies. Any vacancy on our board of directors, howsoever resulting, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.
Special Meetings; Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by our board of directors or by the chief executive officer or upon the written request of the holders of the capital stock entitled to cast at least 25% of the votes at such meeting.
Amendments. Except as otherwise required by the By-Laws or the Charter, action by the stockholders to adopt a proposed amendment to the Charter may be taken by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of our stock entitled to vote thereon and, in addition, if any class or series of stock is entitled to vote thereon as a class, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in each class vote. The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority vote of the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting. Subject to the laws of the State of New Jersey, the Charter and the By-Laws, the board of directors may by majority vote of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present amend the By-Laws or enact such other By-Laws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of our affairs.
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Additional Authorized Shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The additional shares of authorized common stock and preferred stock available for issuance under our Charter could be issued at such times, under such circumstances and with such terms and conditions as to impede a change in control.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Limitation of Liability.
Indemnification. The Charter provides that we will, to the full extent permitted by law, indemnify any person who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit, or proceeding and any appeal therein (and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding) by reason of the fact that he is or was our director, officer or employee.
Limitation of Liability. The Charter further provides that, to the full extent permitted by law, our directors and officers will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to us or our stockholders. No amendment or repeal of this provision of the Charter may adversely affect any right or protection of any of our directors or officers existing at the time of such amendment or repeal.
Transfer Agents and Registrars
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to divide the preferred stock into one or more classes or series and to determine the designations, preferences, limitations and special rights of any class or series including, but not limited to, the following:
| • | the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) of dividends, if any, payable and whether such dividends are payable on a cumulative basis, and the frequency of any such payments; |
| • | the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
| • | the terms and conditions upon which shares may be converted into shares of other series or other capital stock, if issued with the privilege of conversion; |
| • | the price at and the terms and conditions upon which shares may be redeemed; and |
| • | the voting rights, if any. |
As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue stock purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of our common stock (or a range of numbers of shares pursuant to a predetermined formula) at a future date or dates. The price per share of our common stock and number of shares of our common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts.
In this section, references to “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated without its consolidated subsidiaries.
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The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, known as stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and our debt securities or debt obligations of third parties (including United States Treasury securities), that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase our common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice-versa. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, debt securities and will contain a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement will not contain all of the information you may find useful, and reference will be made to the stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, the debt securities securing the holders’ obligations thereunder and the related collateral or depositary arrangements relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.
We may sell the securities directly to purchasers or indirectly through underwriters, dealers or agents. The names of any such underwriters, dealers or agents will be set forth in the relevant prospectus supplement. We will also set forth in the relevant prospectus supplement:
| • | the terms of the offering of the securities; |
| • | the proceeds we will receive from the offering; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any initial public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchanges on which we may list the securities. |
We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
| • | a fixed price; |
| • | prices that may be changed; |
| • | market prices at the time of sale; |
| • | prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| • | negotiated prices. |
We will describe the method of distribution in the relevant prospectus supplement.
If we use underwriters with respect to an offering of the securities, we will set forth in the relevant prospectus supplement:
| • | the name of the managing underwriter, if any; |
| • | the names of any other underwriters; and |
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| • | the terms of the transaction, including any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any. |
The underwriters will acquire any securities for their own accounts and they may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price and at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. We anticipate that any underwriting agreement pertaining to any securities will:
| • | entitle the underwriters to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters may be required to make related to any such civil liability; |
| • | subject the obligations of the underwriters to certain conditions precedent; and |
| • | obligate the underwriters to purchase all securities offered in a particular offering if any such securities are purchased. |
If we use a dealer in an offering of the securities, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. We will set forth the name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction in the relevant prospectus supplement.
If we use an agent in an offering of the securities, we will name the agent and describe the terms of the agency in the relevant prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate otherwise in the relevant prospectus supplement, we will require an agent to act on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Dealers and agents named in a prospectus supplement may be considered underwriters of the securities described in the prospectus supplement under the Securities Act. We may indemnify them against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act.
If underwriters are used in the sale, to facilitate the offering of securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in such securities for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of such securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, such securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing such securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of such securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
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In the ordinary course of business, we may engage in transactions with underwriters, dealers, agents and their affiliates and they may perform services for us.
We may solicit offers to purchase the securities and make sales directly to institutional investors or others who may be considered underwriters under the Securities Act with respect to such sales. We will describe the terms of any such offer in the relevant prospectus supplement. We may also sell the securities through competitive bidding procedures described in the relevant prospectus supplement.
If we authorize underwriters or other agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from institutional investors pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date, we will indicate that we are doing so in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Each series of securities will be a new issue and, except for the common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of new securities on an exchange, or in the case of the common stock, on any additional exchange, but unless we advise you differently in the relevant prospectus supplement, we have no obligation to cause any securities to be so listed. Any underwriters that purchase securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We make no assurance as to the liquidity of, or the development or maintenance of, any trading markets for any securities.
We will estimate our expenses associated with any offering of the securities in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Grace H. Park, Esquire, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, or John C. Walmsley, Esquire, Associate Counsel of our affiliate, PSEG Services Corporation, and for any underwriters, dealers or agents by Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York, who may rely on the opinion of Ms. Park or Mr. Walmsley as to matters of New Jersey law. Ms. Park and Mr. Walmsley each beneficially owns or has rights to acquire an aggregate of less than 0.01% of PSEG’s common stock. Sidley Austin LLP has from time to time represented and continues to represent us and our affiliates in connection with certain unrelated legal matters.
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from PSEG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of PSEG’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PROSPECTUS
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
2,500,000 shares of Common Stock without Par Value
Enterprise DirectSM Plan
(Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan)
We hereby offer participation in the Enterprise Direct Plan (“Enterprise Direct” or “Plan”). Enterprise Direct is a direct stock purchase plan designed to promote long-term ownership among investors in our common stock, without par value (“Common Stock”).
Under Enterprise Direct:
| • | Shareholders who own shares of Common Stock or any series of preferred stock of our subsidiary, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (“PSE&G”) (“Preferred Stock”), directly in their name may enroll. |
| • | Non-shareholders may enroll in the Plan by making an initial investment (“Initial Investment”) of at least $250 plus an enrollment fee (“Enrollment Fee”). |
| • | All or a portion of dividends from Common Stock or Preferred Stock may automatically be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock. |
| • | Once enrolled, Participants may make additional investments (“Voluntary Contributions”) of $50 or more. The maximum annual investment (including the Initial Investment and Voluntary Contributions, but excluding reinvested dividends and shares deposited with Enterprise Direct for safekeeping only) is $125,000. |
| • | Shareholders who hold Common Stock certificates may deposit them with the Administrator for safekeeping, whether or not they reinvest their dividends. |
| • | No trading fees will be charged for purchases or reinvestments through the Plan. Participants will be required to pay certain fees in connection with the Plan. See “Investment Summary and Service Fees”. |
| • | Any shareholders enrolled or deemed to be enrolled (“Participants”) may sell shares of Common Stock credited to their accounts through Enterprise Direct. Trading fees, related service charges and any applicable taxes will be deducted from the proceeds of such sales. |
| • | Participants may have any non-reinvested dividends on shares of Common Stock held in their Enterprise Direct accounts paid by direct deposit. |
Shares of Common Stock will be purchased under the Plan, at our option, from newly issued shares, shares held in our treasury or shares purchased on the open market by a broker registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) who may be affiliated with the Plan’s Administrator, which is acting as an “agent independent” of us and our affiliates, as that term is defined in rules and regulations under the Exchange Act (“Independent Agent”). All sales of Common Stock under the Plan will be made by a broker of the Independent Agent who may be affiliated with the Plan’s Administrator.
The PSEG common stock is not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, Equiniti or PSEG, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal amount invested. Common stock held in the Plan are not subject to protection under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970. The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “PEG.” The closing price of the Common Stock on November 3, 2026 was $72.81.
We have appointed Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“Equiniti” or “EQ”), as the Administrator of the Plan.
Investing in the Common Stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the information in the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus, as well as the risk factors contained in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference into this prospectus before you invest in the Common Stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 6, 2026.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
As allowed by the SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement including its exhibits and documents incorporated by reference. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of its provisions. You should read this prospectus together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Information that is incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus is considered a part of this prospectus and may add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with other information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may have changed since that date.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise stated, or the context otherwise requires, references to “PSEG,” “we,” “us” and “our” are to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. Our filings are available to the public online on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, as well as on our website at investor.pseg.com. None of the information contained at any time on our website is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will be deemed to automatically update and supersede this incorporated information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that have been filed with the SEC.
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-Kfor the year ended December 31, 2025; |
| • | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026, June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026; |
| • | Information in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 12, 2026 that is incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K; |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2026, April 23, 2026 and June 3, 2026, and our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 23, 2026; and |
| • | The description of our common stock in our registration statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as updated by Exhibit 4c to our |
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| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and any further amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description. |
We also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering of Common Stock, except for Current Reports on Form 8-K containing only disclosure furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless otherwise specifically stated in the Form 8-K.
You can get a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by making an oral or written request directed to:
Vice President, Investor Relations
PSEG Services Corporation
80 Park Plaza, 4th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone (973) 430-7000
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or documents to which we otherwise refer you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different or additional information. You should not rely on any other information or representations. Our business, prospects, financial conditions and results of operations may change after this prospectus and the prospectus supplement are distributed to you. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents. You should read all information supplementing this prospectus.
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS THE TEXT OF ENTERPRISE DIRECT IN ITS ENTIRETY AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE RETAINED BY PARTICIPANTS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
This prospectus or other offering materials may contain or incorporate by reference statements about our and our subsidiaries’ future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences and all other statements that are not purely historical that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used herein, the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “should,” “hypothetical,” “potential,” “forecast,” “project,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in filings we make with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These factors include, but are not limited to:
| • | any inability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, or construct transmission and distribution, and our nuclear generation projects; |
| • | significant resource adequacy challenges that present affordability and reliability concerns and that could cause policymakers to implement responsive measures that could have a material, adverse impact on our business, strategy, growth rates, cash flows, results of operations, and financial condition and increase regulatory uncertainty for utility investment initiatives and programs; |
| • | the physical, financial and transition risks related to climate change, including risks relating to potentially increased legislative and regulatory burdens, changing customer preferences and lawsuits; |
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| • | any equipment failures, gas explosions, accidents, critical operating technology or business system failures, natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war, terrorism or other acts of violence, sabotage, physical attacks or security breaches, cyberattacks or other incidents that may impact our ability to provide safe and reliable service to our customers; |
| • | any inability to recover the carrying amount of our long-lived assets; |
| • | disruptions or cost increases in our supply chain, including labor shortages; |
| • | any inability to maintain sufficient liquidity or access sufficient capital on commercially reasonable terms; |
| • | the impact of cybersecurity attacks or intrusions or other disruptions to our information technology, operational or other systems; |
| • | failure to attract and retain a qualified workforce; |
| • | increases in the costs of equipment, materials, fuel, services and labor; |
| • | the impact of our covenants in our debt instruments and credit agreements on our business; |
| • | adverse performance of our defined benefit plan trust funds and Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund and increases in funding requirements; |
| • | any inability to enter into or extend certain significant contracts; |
| • | development, adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence by us and our third-party vendors; |
| • | fluctuations in, or third-party default risk in wholesale power and natural gas markets, including the potential impacts on the economic viability of our generation units; |
| • | the ability to obtain adequate nuclear fuel supply; |
| • | changes in technology related to energy generation, distribution and consumption and changes in customer usage patterns; |
| • | third-party credit risk relating to our sale of nuclear generation output and purchase of nuclear fuel; |
| • | any inability to meet our commitments under forward sale obligations and Regional Transmission Organization rules; |
| • | risks associated with generation activities at, and operation of, the Peach Bottom plants, which are similar to those to which nuclear generation plants that we operate are subject; |
| • | the impact of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations on our business, including PSE&G’s ability to recover costs and earn returns on authorized investments; |
| • | PSE&G’s proposed investment projects or programs may not be fully approved by regulators and its capital investment may be lower than planned; |
| • | our ability to receive sufficient financial support for our New Jersey nuclear plants from the markets, and/or production tax credits; |
| • | adverse changes in and non-compliance with energy industry laws, policies, regulations and standards, including market structures and transmission planning and transmission returns; |
| • | risks associated with our ownership and operation of nuclear facilities, including increased nuclear fuel storage costs, regulatory risks, such as compliance with the Atomic Energy Act and trade control, environmental and other regulations, as well as operational, financial, environmental and health and safety risks; |
| • | changes in or violation of federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and enforcement; |
| • | delays in receipt of, or an inability to receive, necessary licenses and permits and siting approvals; and |
| • | changes in tax laws and regulations. |
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Additional information concerning these factors is set forth or referred to under “Risk Factors.”
All of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and the other offering materials are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or other offering materials apply only as of the date of this prospectus or such other offering materials. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the other offering materials are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
We are a public utility holding company that, acting through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a predominantly regulated electric and gas utility and a nuclear generation business. Our operations are located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Our business approach focuses on operational excellence, financial strength and disciplined investment. As a holding company, our profitability depends on our subsidiaries’ operating results. We have two principal direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries:
| • | PSE&G, which is a public utility engaged principally in the transmission of electricity and distribution of electricity and natural gas in certain areas of New Jersey; and |
| • | PSEG Power, which is an energy supply company that consists of the operations of merchant nuclear generating assets and fuel supply functions engaged in competitive energy sales via its principal direct wholly owned subsidiaries. |
Our other direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries are:
| • | PSEG Energy Holdings L.L.C. (“Energy Holdings”), which primarily holds lease investments and competitively bid, FERC regulated transmission; |
| • | PSEG Long Island LLC (“PSEG LI”), which operates the Long Island Power Authority’s electric transmission and distribution system under an Operations Services Agreement; and |
| • | PSEG Services Corporation (“Services”), which provides certain management, administrative and general services to us and our subsidiaries at cost. |
PSEG is a New Jersey corporation with its principal offices located at 80 Park Plaza, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Its telephone number is (973) 430-7000.
In addition to the risk factors contained in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other periodic reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as those risk factors that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus, prospective investors should carefully consider the risks described below before making a decision to invest in the securities. Such factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and on the trading price of our securities. Such factors could affect actual results and cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
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Because PSEG is a Holding Company, its Ability to Service its Debt Could be Limited
PSEG is a holding company with no material assets other than the stock or membership interests of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, all of PSEG’s operations are conducted by its subsidiaries which are separate and distinct legal entities that have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay the debt of PSEG or to make any funds available to PSEG to pay such debt or satisfy its other corporate funding needs. As a result, PSEG’s debt will effectively be subordinated to all existing and future preferred equity and liabilities of its subsidiaries, including holders of their debt, trade creditors, secured creditors, taxing authorities and guarantee holders, and PSEG’s rights and hence the rights of PSEG’s creditors to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors and preferred equity holders, except to the extent that PSEG’s claims as a creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized.
PSEG depends on its subsidiaries’ cash flows and access to capital in order to service its indebtedness and satisfy its other corporate funding needs. The debt agreements of subsidiaries generally restrict their ability to pay dividends, make cash distributions or otherwise transfer funds to PSEG. These restrictions may include achieving and maintaining financial performance or debt coverage ratios, absence of events of default, or priority in payment of other current or prospective obligations. PSEG’s subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make cash distributions or otherwise transfer funds to PSEG may also be limited or restricted by regulatory considerations or applicable law.
PSEG’s subsidiaries have financed and may in the future finance some investments using non-recourse project level financing. Each non-recourse project level financing is structured to be repaid out of cash flows provided by the investment. In the event of a default under a financing agreement which is not cured, the lenders would generally have rights to the related assets. In the event of foreclosure after a default, PSEG’s subsidiary may lose its equity in the asset or may not be entitled to any cash that the asset may generate. Although a default under a project financing agreement is not expected to cause a default with respect to PSEG’s debt, other debt of the applicable subsidiary, if any, or debt of PSEG’s other subsidiaries, it may materially affect PSEG’s ability to service its outstanding indebtedness and satisfy its other corporate funding needs.
We can give no assurances that our current and future capital structure, operating performance or financial condition will permit us to access the capital markets or to obtain other financing at the times, in the amounts and on the terms necessary or advisable for us to successfully carry out our business strategy or to service our indebtedness and satisfy our other corporate funding needs.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON STOCK
The following description summarizes the material terms of our Common Stock. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of our Common Stock. For additional information, you should refer to the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “Act”), our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and By-Laws, as amended (the “By-Laws”). Our Charter and By-Laws are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
In this section, references to “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated without its consolidated subsidiaries.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, without par value, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value.
Common Stock
General. As of November 3, 2026, 498,515,417 shares of our Common Stock were issued and outstanding. The outstanding shares of our Common Stock are, and any shares of Common Stock offered hereby when issued and paid for will be, fully paid and non-assessable.
Dividend Rights. Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to such dividends as may be lawfully declared from time to time by our board of directors out of our earned surplus and in compliance with the Act, and from legally available funds after payment of all amounts owed on any preferred stock that may be outstanding.
Voting Rights. Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held by them on all matters presented to holders of our Common Stock.
Liquidation Rights. After satisfaction of our creditors and the preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock, the holders of our Common Stock are entitled to share, ratably, in the distribution of all remaining net assets.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights. Holders of our Common Stock have no conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to or acquire any of our securities. Our Common Stock is not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund provisions.
Listing. Our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PEG.”
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Charter and By-Laws
Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of any class or series of stock having a preference over our Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances, any director may be removed from office without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. The board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office, may remove a director for cause where, in their judgment, the continuation of the director in office would be harmful to us and may suspend the director for a reasonable period pending final determination that cause exists for removal.
Business Combinations. The Charter prohibits certain business combinations with “Interested Shareholders” unless, subject to specified exceptions, the business combination or the transaction in which the person became
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an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes: (a) any merger or consolidation of us or any subsidiary with an Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof; (b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof of any assets of us or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $25,000,000 or more; (c) the issuance or transfer by us or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any of our securities or any securities of any or our subsidiaries to any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $25,000,000 or more; (d) the adoption of any plan or proposal for our liquidation or dissolution proposed by or on behalf of any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof; or (e) certain reclassification, recapitalization, merger or consolidation transactions that would have the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of our or any of our subsidiaries’ equity or convertible securities which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate thereof. Each such transaction requires the prior approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Generally, an “Interested Shareholder” is any person who is, or during the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was, the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of shares having 10% or more of the votes of the then outstanding voting stock.
Advance Notice Requirements. Stockholders wishing to nominate persons for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting or to propose any business to be considered by our stockholders at an annual meeting must comply with certain advance notice and other requirements set forth in the By-Laws.
Proxy Access. The By-Laws permit an eligible stockholder or group of stockholders to include up to a specified number of director nominees in our proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders. To qualify, the stockholders (or group of up to twenty stockholders) must have continuously owned for at least three years 3% or more of our outstanding Common Stock as of the date written notice is received by us of such stockholder’s intention to propose director nominees and as of the record date for the annual meeting. The number of stockholder nominees permitted under the proxy access provisions of the By-Laws may not exceed 25% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of a nomination may be delivered.
Notice of a nomination under the proxy access provisions of the By-Laws must generally be submitted to the Secretary no earlier than 150 days and no later than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of our proxy statement in the prior year. The notice must contain certain information specified in the By-Laws.
Board Vacancies. Any vacancy on our board of directors, howsoever resulting, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.
Special Meetings; Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by our board of directors or by the chief executive officer or upon the written request of the holders of the capital stock entitled to cast a majority of votes at such meeting.
Amendments. Except as otherwise required by the By-Laws or the Charter, action by the stockholders to adopt a proposed amendment to the Charter may be taken by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of our stock entitled to vote thereon and, in addition, if any class or series of stock is entitled to vote thereon as a class, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in each class vote. The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority vote of the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting. Subject to the laws of the State of New Jersey, the Charter and the By-Laws, the Board of Directors may by majority vote of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present amend the By-Laws or enact such other By-Laws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of our affairs.
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Additional Authorized Shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The additional shares of authorized Common Stock and preferred stock available for issuance under our Charter could be issued at such times, under such circumstances and with such terms and conditions as to impede a change in control.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Limitation of Liability.
Indemnification. The Charter provides that we will, to the full extent permitted by law, indemnify any person who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit, or proceeding and any appeal therein (and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding) by reason of the fact that he is or was our director, officer or employee.
Limitation of Liability. The Charter further provides that, to the full extent permitted by law, our directors and officers will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to us or our stockholders. No amendment or repeal of this provision of the Charter may adversely affect any right or protection of any of our directors or officers existing at the time of such amendment or repeal.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“Equiniti” or “EQ”).
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The following constitutes the full text of Enterprise Direct:
Enterprise Direct is a direct stock purchase plan designed to promote long-term ownership among investors in our Common Stock. Participants may purchase shares of Common Stock and reinvest all or a portion of the dividends paid on Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock in shares of Common Stock, without the payment of any trading fees. To the extent, if any, that such shares are purchased directly from us, the Plan will provide us with additional equity capital.
Enterprise Direct is administered by the individual (who may be our employee or an employee of any of our subsidiaries), bank, trust company or other entity (including us or any of our subsidiaries) appointed from time to time by us to act as administrator of the Plan (the “Administrator”).
The Administrator is responsible for administering the Plan, receiving all cash investments made by Participants, forwarding funds to be used to purchase Common Stock in the open market and sales instructions to the broker of the Independent Agent, holding shares of stock acquired under the Plan, maintaining records, sending statements of account to Participants and performing other duties related to the Plan. Under certain circumstances, the Administrator may be an Independent Agent.
We have appointed Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“Equiniti” or “EQ”), as the Administrator of Enterprise Direct.
Participants may contact the Administrator at the following:
By Writing To:
Equiniti
P.O. Box 64856
St. Paul, MN 55164-0856
Certified/Overnight Mail:
Equiniti
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-4100
By Telephone, Toll Free:
1-800-242-0813 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time
– International Calls:
1-651-450-4064
– For the hearing impaired:
Please call 1-800-242-0813 and utilize our relay service
By Email:
Login to your account at shareowneronline.com and select Contact Us
By Website:
shareowneronline.com
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To obtain information and perform certain transactions on your account online, including investments via automatic withdrawal, share withdrawals and sale of shares, you may use the Administrator’s website at: shareowneronline.com.
To register for online access:
If you are an existing registered shareowner:
1. Go to shareowneronline.com
2. Click Register then I want to register for online access
3. Select “PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INC” and enter your EQ Account Number
4. Select your Authentication* method
5. Follow the steps to provide your information, create your secure profile, and access your online account
*If you need your Authentication ID to continue, select Authentication ID and Please send my Authentication ID, then click Send ID. For security, this number is required for first time sign on.
If you are a new investor:
1. Go to shareowneronline.com
2. Select Register then I want to invest in a Company
3. Select “PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INC”
4. Select Invest in this company and follow the instructions to buy shares
For optional cash investments, sales, transfers, deposits or withdrawals, mail the Transaction Request Form attached to your account statement to:
Equiniti
P.O. Box 64856
St. Paul, MN 55164-0856
For certificate deposits, mail the Transaction Request Form attached to your account statement along with your certificates to:
Certified/Overnight Mail:
Equiniti
1110 Center Pointe Curve, Suite 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-4100
Any person or entity is eligible to participate in Enterprise Direct provided that (i) such person or entity fulfills the requirements described below under “Enrollment Procedures” and (ii) in the case of foreign investors, participation is limited to shareholders whose participation would not violate local laws and regulations or subject the Plan, the Administrator or us to taxation by or in such jurisdictions.
Regulations in certain countries may limit or prohibit participation in this type of plan. Therefore, persons residing outside the U.S. who wish to participate in Enterprise Direct should first determine whether they are subject to any governmental regulations prohibiting their participation. Enterprise Direct is not offered to any person in any country where such participation is prohibited or where registration of us, the Administrator or the Common Stock would be required as a condition of such person’s participation.
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Requests for copies of an Account Authorization Form (the “AAF”) and this prospectus should be made to the Administrator at the addresses and telephone numbers listed in “Inquiries,” above.
To enroll in the Plan:
If you are an existing registered shareowner:
1. Go to shareowneronline.com
2. Click Register then then I want to register for online access
3. Select “PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INC” and enter your EQ Account Number
4. Select your Authentication* method
5. Follow the steps to provide your information, create your secure profile, and access your online account
*If you do not have your Authentication ID, select I don’t know and complete the online form to have it sent to you. For security, this number is required for first time sign on.
1. Go to shareowneronline.com
2. Select Register then I want to invest in a Company
3. Select “PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INC”
4. Select Invest in this company and follow the instructions to buy shares
“Street Name” Holders/Transfer of Shares From a Broker
Beneficial owners whose shares are registered in the name of a bank, a broker, a trustee or other agent may transfer these shares to an Enterprise Direct account by instructing their agent to register these shares directly in their name. Upon such registration, the shareholder may enroll in Enterprise Direct online or by returning a completed AAF to the Administrator.
A Participant’s total investment cannot exceed $125,000 per calendar year and must be made in U.S. dollars. For the purpose of applying the annual limit, all investments during any calendar year (including the Initial Investment and all Voluntary Contributions, but excluding reinvested dividends and shares deposited with Enterprise Direct for safekeeping only) are aggregated. No interest will be paid on amounts held by the Administrator pending investment.
Participants may make investments in Common Stock through Enterprise Direct of at least $250 plus the initial enrollment fee for an Initial Investment and at least $50 per investment for any Voluntary Contributions (each, a “Direct Investment”) by mailing a new AAF together with a check as directed on the form. The check must be in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. or Canadian financial institution. Do not send cash. Money orders, traveler’s checks or third-party checks will not be accepted. Funds received by the Administrator at least one business day prior to an Investment Date (as defined in “Investment Dates,” below) will be invested on such Investment Date. Any individual or entity may make Direct Investments on behalf of any Participant or eligible investor as a gift or award.
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A Direct Investment received by the Administrator and not yet used to purchase Common Stock through the Plan will be returned to the Participant as soon as administratively possible if a written request is received by the Administrator at least two business days prior to the applicable Investment Date. However, no refund of a check will be made until the check has cleared. Accordingly, such refunds may be delayed up to three weeks. No interest will be paid on a Direct Investment that is refunded to the Participant. If any optional cash investment, including payment by check or automatic withdrawal, is returned for any reason, the Plan Administrator will remove from the participant’s account any common stock purchased with such funds, and will sell these shares. The Plan Administrator may also sell additional common stock in the account to recover a returned funds fee for each optional cash investment returned unpaid for any reason and may sell additional shares as necessary to cover any market loss incurred by the Plan Administrator.
Participants may make Voluntary Contributions through automatic withdrawals of at least $50 from a predesignated account with a U.S. Financial institution (“Automatic Investments”). To initiate Automatic Investments, Participants may enroll online or complete and return the Automatic Cash Withdrawal and Investment section of the AAF. Automatic Investments will be initiated as soon as administratively possible. Once initiated, funds will be drawn on the 11th and/or 25th day of each month, or if such date is not a business day, the deduction will be made on the preceding business day.
A participant can elect to reinvest all or a portion of the dividends payable (if any) to purchase additional shares of Company common stock. The participant may also have the choice to receive the full dividend in a cash payment. The following describes the available options:
Full dividend reinvestment — All cash dividends payable on shares held in the Plan, along with any shares held in physical certificate form or through book-entry Direct Registration Shares (‘’DRS’’), will be used to purchase additional shares. The participant will not receive cash dividends from the Company; instead, all dividends will be reinvested. Whole and fractional shares will be allocated to the Plan account. (RD)
Partial dividend reinvestment by share amount — A participant may elect to reinvest a portion of the dividend and receive the remainder in cash. The partial elected to reinvestment will be applied to the total shares held in the Plan, along with any shares held in physical certificate form or held through book-entry DRS. The cash portion of dividends will be sent by check unless the participant has elected to have those dividends deposited directly to a designated bank account. (RP-N)
Partial cash dividend by share amount — A participant may elect to be paid cash for a portion of the dividend and reinvest the remainder. The partial elected to be paid will be applied to the designated whole number of shares held in physical certificate form or held through book-entry DRS. All shares held in the Plan will be reinvested. The cash portion of dividends will be sent by check unless the participant has elected to have those dividends deposited directly to a designated bank account. (PS-Y)
Once a Participant elects reinvestment, dividends paid on the specific securities so designated will be reinvested in shares of Common Stock until a different AAF is received. An AAF must be received by the Administrator no later than the record date for the dividend that is to be paid to be effective with respect to that dividend. The amount reinvested will be reduced by any amount which is required to be withheld under applicable tax law or other statutes. See “Income Tax Information.”
If a Participant does not elect to reinvest dividends, or elects partial reinvestment, that portion of the dividends not being reinvested will be sent to the Participant by check or, if the Participant has elected, by direct deposit. See “Direct Deposit of Dividends Not Reinvested.” The amount of any such dividends paid will be reduced by any amount, which is required to be withheld under applicable tax law or other statutes. See “Income Tax Information.”
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Enterprise Direct “Investment Dates” are as follows:
(a) For Direct Investments, (i) the 15th day of each calendar month and the last calendar day of the month, or, if such day is not a day on which the financial markets in New York City are open for business, the immediately preceding day on which they are open. No interest will be paid on amounts held by the Administrator pending investment.
(b) For Automatic Investments, beginning on the next Investment Date after your account is debited, or, if such day is not a day on which the financial markets in New York City are open for business, the immediately preceding day on which they are open.
(c) For dividends paid on Common Stock or Preferred Stock which are designated for investment through Enterprise Direct, on each respective dividend payment date.
Common Stock will be purchased by the broker of the Independent Agent in the open market or directly from us, at our sole discretion. Shares purchased from us may be either newly issued shares or shares held in our treasury.
We may not change our determination regarding the source of the shares (i.e., from us or in the open market) more than once in any 3-month period. At any time that shares of Common Stock are purchased in the open market for Participants, we will not exercise our right to change the source of purchases of Common Stock absent a determination by our board of directors or the finance committee of our board of directors that we have a need to increase equity capital or there is another compelling reason for such change.
Open market purchases by the broker of the Independent Agent may be made on any stock exchange in the United States where the Common Stock is traded, in the over-the-counter market, from Participants who are selling through the Plan or by negotiated transactions on such terms as the broker of the Independent Agent, in its sole discretion, may reasonably determine at the time of purchase. Any shares purchased by the broker of the Independent Agent from us will be made in accordance with applicable requirements. None of us, the Administrator (unless the Administrator is also the broker of the Independent Agent) nor any Participant shall have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased. We will pay all trading fees, related service charges and any applicable taxes incurred by the broker of the Independent Agent in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock in the open market. For information concerning the potential income tax consequences to the Participant of open market purchases see “Income Tax Information.”
For shares purchased in the open market, the broker of the Independent Agent may, at its sole discretion, purchase such shares at any time beginning on the Investment Date and ending on the business day before the next Investment Date. The number of shares (including any fraction of a share) of Common Stock credited to the account of a Participant for a particular Investment Date will be determined by dividing the total amount of dividends, Direct Investments and/or Automatic Investments to be invested for such Participant on such Investment Date by the weighted average price per share of such purchases made for all Participants for such Investment Date.
Purchases of shares of Common Stock from us, whether newly issued or treasury shares, will be made on the relevant Investment Date at the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape as published for the Investment Date. No trading fees will be incurred on shares acquired directly from us.
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Under Enterprise Direct, a Participant does not have the ability to order the purchase of a specific number of shares, the purchase of shares at a specified price or a particular date of purchase, as may be done with purchases through a broker.
The broker of the Independent Agent may commingle each Participant’s funds with those of other Participants for the purpose of executing purchase and sale transactions. Participants will not earn interest on funds held by the Plan Administrator. During the period that an optional cash investment is pending, the collected funds in the possession of the Plan Administrator may be invested in certain Permitted Investments. For purposes of this Plan, “Permitted Investments” shall mean the Plan Administrator may hold the funds uninvested or invested in select deposit products. The risk of any loss from such Permitted Investments shall be the responsibility of the Plan Administrator. Investment income from such Permitted Investments shall be retained by the Plan Administrator.
Sales are usually made through a broker, who will receive brokerage commissions. Typically, the shares are sold through the exchange on which the common shares of PSEG are traded. Depending on the number of PSEG shares to be sold and current trading volume, sale transactions may be completed in multiple transactions and over the course of more than one day. All sales are subject to market conditions, system availability, restrictions and other factors. The actual sale date, time or price received for any shares sold through the Plan cannot be guaranteed.
Participants may instruct the Plan Administrator to sell shares under the Plan through a Batch Order, Market Order, Day Limit Order, Good-‘Til-Date/Canceled Limit Order or Stop Order.
Batch Order (online, telephone, mail) — The Plan Administrator will combine each request to sell through the Plan with other Plan participant sale requests for a Batch Order. Shares are then periodically submitted in bulk to a broker for sale on the open market. Shares will be sold no later than five business days (except where deferral is necessary under state or federal regulations). Bulk sales may be executed in multiple transactions and over more than one day depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes. Once entered, a Batch Order request cannot be canceled.
Market Order (online or telephone) — The participant’s request to sell shares in a Market Order will be at the prevailing market price when the trade is executed. If such an order is placed during market hours, the Plan Administrator will promptly submit the shares to a broker for sale on the open market. Once entered, a Market Order request cannot be canceled. Sales requests submitted near the close of the market may be executed on the next trading day, along with other requests received after market close.
Day Limit Order (online or telephone) — The participant’s request to sell shares in a Day Limit Order will be promptly submitted by the Plan Administrator to a broker. The broker will execute as a Market Order when and if the stock reaches or exceeds the specified price on the day the order was placed (for orders placed outside of market hours, the next trading day). The order is automatically canceled if the price is not met by the end of that trading day. Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes, the order may only be partially filled and the remainder of the order canceled. Once entered, a Day Limit Order request cannot be canceled by the participant.
Good-‘Til-Date/Canceled (GTD/GTC) Limit Order (online or telephone) — A GTD/GTC Limit Order request will be promptly submitted by the Plan Administrator to a broker. The broker will execute as a Market Order when and if the stock reaches or exceeds the specified price at any time while the order remains open (up to the date requested or 90 days for GTC). Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volumes, sales may be executed in multiple transactions and may be traded on more than one day. The order or any unexecuted portion will be automatically canceled if the price is not met by the end of the order period. The order may also be canceled by the applicable stock exchange or the participant.
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Stop Order (online or telephone) — The Plan Administrator will promptly submit a participant’s request to sell shares in a Stop Order to a broker. A sale will be executed when the stock reaches a specified price, at which time the Stop Order becomes a Market Order, and the sale will be at the prevailing market price when the trade is executed. The price specified in the order must be below the current market price (generally used to limit a market loss).
Sales proceeds will be net of any fees to be paid by the participant. The Plan Administrator will deduct any fees or applicable tax withholding from the sale proceeds. Sales processed on accounts without a valid Form W-9 for U.S. citizens or Form W-8BEN for non-U.S. citizens will be subject to Federal Backup Withholding. This tax can be avoided by furnishing the appropriate and valid form prior to the sale. Forms are available online at shareowneronline.com.
A check for the proceeds of the sale of shares (in U.S. dollars), less applicable taxes and fees, will generally be mailed by first class mail as soon as administratively possible after settlement date. If a participant submits a request to sell all or part of the Plan shares, and the participant requests net proceeds to be automatically deposited to a checking or savings account, the participant must provide a voided blank check for a checking account or blank savings deposit slip for a savings account. If the participant is unable to provide a voided check or deposit slip, the participant’s written request must have the participant’s signature(s) medallion guaranteed by an eligible financial institution for direct deposit. Requests for automatic deposit of sale proceeds that do not provide the required documentation will not be processed and a check for the net proceeds will be issued.
A participant who wishes to sell shares currently held in certificate form may send them in for deposit to the Plan Administrator and then proceed with the sale. To sell shares through a broker of their choice, the participant may request the broker to transfer shares electronically from the Plan account to their brokerage account. Alternatively, a stock certificate can be requested in writing that the participant can deliver to their broker.
PSEG’s share price may fluctuate between the time the sale request is received and the time the sale is completed on the open market. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable for any claim arising out of failure to sell on a certain date or at a specific price. Neither the Plan Administrator nor any of its affiliates will provide any investment recommendations or investment advice with respect to transactions made through the Plan. This risk should be evaluated by the participant and is a risk that is borne solely by the participant.
The Insider Trading Policy provides that the participant may not trade in PSEG’s common stock if in possession of material, non-public information about the company. Share sales by employees, Affiliates and Section 16 officers must be made in compliance with PSEG’s Insider Trading Policy.
Participants may change their Enterprise Direct options at any time online, by telephone or by delivering a new AAF or other instructions to that effect to the Administrator. Any such instructions must be received by the Administrator no later than the record date for the dividend that is to be paid to be effective for that dividend. In addition, for changes involving Automatic Investments, an AAF indicating such change must be received by the Administrator no later than 15 business days prior to the Investment Date upon which the change is to become effective.
Withdrawal from Enterprise Direct
A participant may terminate participation in the Plan at any time by instruction to the Plan Administrator. Requests can be made by telephone or through the mail. A participant requesting termination may elect to retain PSEG shares or to sell all or a portion of the shares in the account. If a participant chooses to retain the Plan shares, they will be converted and held in book-entry DRS. Any fractional shares will be sold and a check will be sent to the participant for the proceeds. If a participant chooses to sell the Plan shares, the Plan Administrator will
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sell such shares at the current market value and will send the proceeds to the participant, less fees and any applicable taxes. If no election is made in the request for termination, whole Plan shares will be converted to book-entry DRS. Upon termination, any uninvested contributions will be returned to the participant. Any future dividends will be paid in cash, unless the participant rejoins the Plan.
If the participant’s request to terminate their participation in the Plan is received on or after a dividend record date, but before the dividend payable date, the participant’s termination will be processed as soon as administratively possible, and a separate dividend check will be mailed to the participant.
The Plan Administrator reserves the right to terminate participation in the Plan if a participant does not have at least one whole share in the Plan. Upon termination the participant may receive the cash proceeds from the sale of any fractional share, less any transaction fee and brokerage commission.
A participant may elect to deposit physical Company common stock certificate(s) for safekeeping, by sending the certificate(s) to the Plan Administrator together with instructions to deposit the certificate(s). The certificate(s) will show as surrendered with the corresponding credit to Plan shares. The transaction will appear on the Plan account statement, and shares will be held by the Plan Administrator in its name or nominee name. These shares will be held until the participant sells, withdraws or terminates participation in the Plan. Because the participant bears the risk of loss in sending stock certificate(s), it is recommended that the participant sends them registered, insured for at least 5% of the current market value and request a return receipt.
Certificate(s) will be issued to a participant for Company common stock in the participant’s account upon written request to the Plan Administrator. No certificate for a fractional share will be issued.
Direct Deposit of Dividends Not Reinvested
Participants and non-Participants who elect not to reinvest all dividends on shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock may receive non-reinvested dividends by direct deposit to their accounts at predesignated U.S. financial institutions on the applicable dividend payment date. To receive direct deposit of funds, Participants and non-Participants must obtain from the Administrator a Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form and complete, sign and return it to the Administrator. Direct deposit of funds will become effective as soon as administratively possible after receipt of a completed Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form. Changes in designated direct deposit accounts may be made by logging into your account online or delivering a new Direct Deposit of Dividends Authorization Form to the Administrator.
Dividends on shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock not designated for reinvestment and not directly deposited will be paid by check on the applicable dividend payment date.
To authorize a transfer or gift of PSEG shares, a participant must submit a Stock Power Form with instructions to transfer ownership of shares, to the Plan Administrator. The Form can be found online at shareowneronline.com. For additional assistance regarding the transfer of Plan shares, contact the Plan Administrator. The Form will require a “Medallion Signature Guarantee” by a financial institution. A Medallion Signature Guarantee is a special guarantee for securities and may be obtained through a financial institution such as a broker, bank, savings and loan association, or credit union who participates in the Medallion Signature Guarantee program. The guarantee ensures that the individual requesting the transfer of securities is the owner of those securities. Most banks and brokers participate in the Medallion Signature Guarantee program.
If a participant’s request to transfer all Plan shares in an account is received between a dividend record date and payable date, the request will be processed and a separate dividend check will be mailed to the participant.
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A participant can also gift shares from a Plan account to a non-participant by making an initial cash investment plus the initial enrollment fee to establish an account in the recipient’s name. An optional cash investment can also be submitted on behalf of an existing Plan participant. If a participant’s investments or transfers are made to an existing account, dividends on the shares credited to such investments or transfers will be invested in accordance with the elections made by the existing account owner.
Investment Summary and Service Fees
| Summary |
||||
| Minimum cash investments |
||||
| Minimum one-time initial purchase for new investors |
$ | 250.00 | ||
| Minimum one-time optional cash investment |
$ | 50.00 | ||
| Minimum recurring automatic investments |
$ | 50.00 | ||
| Maximum cash investments |
||||
| Maximum annual investment |
$ | 125,000.00 | ||
| Dividend reinvestment options |
||||
| Reinvest options |
Full, Partial | |||
| Fees |
||||
| Investment fees |
||||
| Initial enrollment (new investors only) |
$ | 10.00 | ||
| Dividend reinvestment |
||||
| Shareowners owning less than 100 shares |
Company Paid | |||
| Shareowners owning 100 shares or more |
Company Paid | |||
| Check investment |
Company Paid | |||
| One-time automatic investment |
Company Paid | |||
| Recurring automatic investment |
Company Paid | |||
| Dividend purchase trading commission per share |
Company Paid | |||
| Optional cash purchase trading commission per share |
Company Paid | |||
| Sales fees |
||||
| Batch Order |
$ | 10.00 | ||
| Market Order |
$ | 25.00 | ||
| Limit Order per transaction (Day/GTD/GTC) |
$ | 30.00 | ||
| Stop Order |
$ | 30.00 | ||
| Sale trading commission per share |
$ | 0.05 | ||
| Direct deposit of sale proceeds |
$ | 5.00 | ||
| Other fees |
||||
| Certificate issuance |
Company Paid | |||
| Certificate deposit |
Company Paid | |||
| Returned check / Rejected automatic bank withdrawals |
$ | 35.00 per item | ||
| Prior year duplicate statements |
$ | 15.00 per year |
We reserve the right at any time to change these fees or to charge Participants (including those who do not reinvest dividends) other fees, including but not limited to administrative, set-up and handling fees. Notices of such future changes or additional fees will be sent to Participants at least 30 days prior to their effective date.
The Administrator will deduct the applicable fees and any other charges from proceeds due from a sale, funds received for investment or the payment of dividends. Any trading fees paid by us on behalf of a Participant
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to purchase shares of Common Stock under Enterprise Direct will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as income to the Participant. See “Income Tax Information.” At present, we estimate that trading fees will not exceed $0.10 per share. We do not control the amount or the timing of changes to trading fees. Therefore, no notice of increases in trading fees will be provided.
Participants will be provided statements listing all transactions in the Participant’s account for the current calendar year at their last known address as shown on the Administrator’s records. In addition, Participants will be provided a confirmation statement for each Voluntary Contribution that is made.
If you are a shareowner of record owning less than 100 shares, you pay no transaction fees to reinvest your dividends. You will receive an annual account statement detailing all of your transactions for the year along with your Form 1099-DIV tax reporting information as applicable.
If you are a shareowner of record owning 100 shares or more, you pay no transaction fees to reinvest your dividends. You will receive quarterly account statements.
Statements provide cost basis information which is necessary for tax reporting after the sale of Common Stock and should be retained by the Participant. You may elect to have your statements and other information sent to you automatically by initiating eDelivery through shareowneronline.com.
Stock Splits; Stock Dividends; Rights Offerings
It is understood that any stock dividends or stock splits distributed by PSEG on common stock held by the Plan Administrator for the participant will be credited to the participant’s account. This will include all whole and fractional shares.
In the event that PSEG makes available to its shareowners any rights to subscribe for additional common stock, the rights to subscribe will be based on any shares held in and outside of the Plan. Any new shares distributed by PSEG resulting from the exercise of the rights will be issued directly to the participant.
All Common Stock purchased and/or held in a Participant’s account will be held in a nominee name and administered by the Administrator, as custodian. Cash held for a Participant’s account pending investment will be held in a segregated account and will not be commingled with our or the Administrator’s funds (although funds held for Participants will be commingled with funds held for other Participants). Participants will be provided all reports distributed to our shareholders, as well as proxy materials, including a proxy covering all Common Stock held in the Participant’s account, relating to any annual or special meeting of our shareholders at the last address for the Participant shown on the Administrator’s records. Participants in the Plan will receive voting materials and have the sole right to vote the common stock of PSEG represented by the shares held for them in the Plan. In the event the participant does not provide direction for voting, the Plan shares will not be voted.
The participant is encouraged to read the information carefully. Votes may be submitted online, by telephone or by returning the signed, dated proxy card. A participant’s shares will be voted in accordance with the most recent submitted instructions.
Responsibility of the Administrator and Us; Indemnification
Neither we nor the Administrator can assure a profit or protect against a loss on shares purchased under Enterprise Direct. The establishment and maintenance of Enterprise Direct by us does not constitute an assurance with respect to either the value of Common Stock or whether we will continue to pay dividends on Common Stock or at what rate.
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Neither we nor the Administrator will be liable for any losses or liability howsoever incurred by Participants arising from, related to or in connection with the administration of the Plan or the Administrator’s actions or non-actions with respect to the Plan (including by way of example and not by way of limitation any losses or claim of liability arising from (i) the failure to terminate a Participant’s account, sell shares in the Plan or invest optional cash investments or dividends without prior receipt of proper documentation and instructions; (ii) the prices at which shares are purchased or sold for the Participant’s account, the timing of such purchases and sales, and the fluctuation of prices of the shares (a) between the receipt of cash or dividends for investment and such investment, (b) between the receipt of instructions to sell and such sale and (c) after the purchase and sale of shares, and (iii) the transfer of shares from Participant’s account to a broker pursuant to the Profile Program of The Depositary Trust Company) except for such losses and liabilities caused by the Administrator’s negligence or willful misconduct. In no event shall the Administrator be liable for special, consequential or punitive damages or losses due to forces beyond its control (including by way of example and not by way of limitation strikes, work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware services)).
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MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF ENTERPRISE DIRECT
We may modify or terminate Enterprise Direct at any time with or without prior notice and, in such event, Participants will be so notified. The Administrator also reserves the right to change any administrative procedures of Enterprise Direct.
Interpretation of Enterprise Direct
We and the Administrator may, in our absolute discretion, interpret and regulate Enterprise Direct as deemed necessary or desirable in connection with the operation of Enterprise Direct and resolve questions or ambiguities concerning the various provisions of Enterprise Direct.
Enterprise Direct shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
If a Participant does not have at least one whole share of Common Stock credited to the Participant’s account under Enterprise Direct, or does not own any Common Stock or Preferred Stock for which dividends are designated for reinvestment pursuant to Enterprise Direct, the Participant’s participation in Enterprise Direct may be terminated by us upon written notice to the Participant. Additionally, we may terminate any Participant’s participation in Enterprise Direct after sending written notice to such Participant at the address appearing on the Administrator’s records. A Participant whose participation has been terminated will receive (i) any dividends and cash investments credited to the Participant’s account and (ii) a check for the cash value of any fraction of a share of Common Stock credited to the Participant’s account. Such fraction of a share shall be valued at the weighted average price per share of the aggregate number of shares sold by the broker of the Independent Agent on the day such fraction of a share is sold.
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We believe that the following is an accurate summary (as of the date of this prospectus) of the U.S. federal income tax consequences generally applicable to Participants in Enterprise Direct who are taxed on their dividend income.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, dividends invested in our Common Stock under Enterprise Direct are taxable to the same extent and in the same manner as the dividends received from us in cash. Therefore, taxable Participants cannot avoid U.S. federal income taxes by participating in Enterprise Direct. Further, trading fees paid by us for open market purchase of shares on a Participant’s behalf are also treated as taxable dividends for this purpose. Annual informational returns sent to the IRS and to Participants, where required, will reflect all dividends declared on their Common Stock or Preferred Stock, whether or not invested under Enterprise Direct, and any related trading fees.
A Participant’s income tax basis in shares acquired under Enterprise Direct will equal the price at which the shares are credited to the Participant’s account by the Administrator and will be increased by any trading fees incurred by us in purchasing the shares on the open market.
This Plan assumes that each Participant will use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method when determining the tax basis of any shares sold. Participants may designate their preference for a different method of determining the tax basis of shares by identifying this preference in writing to the Plan Administrator. Participants may designate their preference for specific identification cost basis at any time.
This discussion does not address the tax considerations arising under the laws of any foreign, state or local jurisdictions, nor does it address all tax considerations applicable to a Participant’s particular circumstances. Further, certain Participants, such as tax-exempt entities (e.g., pension plans and IRAs) and foreign shareholders, may be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on their dividend income. Accordingly, Participants are urged to discuss participation in Enterprise Direct with their tax advisors before enrolling.
In the case of Participants in Enterprise Direct whose dividends are subject to U.S. back-up withholding, the Administrator will reinvest dividends less the amount of tax required to be withheld.
In the case of foreign shareholders whose dividends are subject to U.S. tax withholding, the Administrator will reinvest dividends less the amount of tax required to be withheld. The filing of any documentation required obtaining a reduction in the U.S. withholding tax will be the responsibility of the foreign shareholder.
Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments of U.S.-source dividends and the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of U.S. stock to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries), unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. Withholding (if applicable) currently applies to any payment of amounts treated as dividends and will apply to any payment made after January 1, 2019 of gross proceeds of the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares. If withholding applies, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Participants should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA.
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We will receive proceeds from the purchase of Common Stock pursuant to Enterprise Direct only to the extent that any such purchases are made directly from us and not in open market purchases by the Administrator. Proceeds received by us from such purchases will be used for general corporate purposes.
Common Stock offered pursuant to Enterprise Direct will be purchased in the open market or, at our option, directly from us. Participants will be required to pay certain fees in connection with Enterprise Direct. See “Service Fees” for a description of the fees charged by Enterprise Direct. All other costs related to the administration of Enterprise Direct will be paid by us.
The legality of the Common Stock covered hereby has been passed upon for us by Grace H. Park, Esquire, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, or John C. Walmsley, Esquire, Associate Counsel of our affiliate, PSEG Services Corporation. Ms. Park and Mr. Walmsley each beneficially owns or has rights to acquire an aggregate of less than 0.01% of Common Stock.
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from PSEG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of PSEG’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof or that the information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
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Table of Contents
Public Service
Enterprise Group
Incorporated
Enterprise DirectSM
(Dividend Reinvestment And
Stock Purchase Plan)
November 6, 2026
Prospectus
Table of Contents
PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following table sets forth the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimates.
| SEC registration fee |
$ | * | ||
| Printing |
** | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Fees of accountants |
** | |||
| Fees of trustees |
** | |||
| Blue sky fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Rating agency fees |
** | |||
| Miscellaneous |
** | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | ** | ||
|
|
|
| * | Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except for 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock that had been previously registered on PSEG’s Registration Statement No. 333-275509, originally filed on November 13, 2023 (the “2023 Registration Statement”) and remain unsold. The 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock were originally registered on the PSEG’s Registration Statement No. 333-221638, originally filed on November 17, 2017 (the “Original Registration Statement”) and carried forward to PSEG’s Registration Statement No. 333-250825, originally filed on November 20, 2020 (the “2020 Registration Statement” and, together with the 2023 Registration Statement, the “Prior Registration Statements”) and then to the 2023 Registration Statement. In connection with the registration of such unsold shares on the Original Registration Statement, the Registrant paid a filing fee of $16,073, which was subsequently applied to the Prior Registration Statements pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), which fee will continue to be applied to such unsold shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, there is no registration fee due in connection with such unsold shares pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
| ** | These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Under Section 14A:3-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, we:
(1) have power to indemnify each director and officer (as well as our employees and agents) against expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving him by reason of his being or having been such director or officer, other than a proceeding by or in our own right, if (a) such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests, and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding, such director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful;
(2) have power to indemnify each director and officer against expenses in connection with any proceeding by or in our own right to procure a judgment in our favor which involves such director or officer by reason of his being or having been such director or officer, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests; however, in such proceeding no indemnification may be provided in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless and only to the extent that the court determines that the director or officer is fairly reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court shall deem proper;
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(3) must indemnify each director and officer against expenses to the extent that he has been successful on the merits or otherwise in any proceeding referred to in (1) and (2) above or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein; and
(4) have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer against any expenses incurred in any proceeding and any liabilities asserted against him by reason of his being or having been a director or officer, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify him against such expenses and liabilities under the statute.
As used in the statute, expenses means reasonable costs, disbursements and counsel fees; liabilities means amounts paid or incurred in satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and penalties; and proceeding means any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding.
Indemnification may be awarded by a court under (1) or (2) as well as under (3) above, notwithstanding a prior determination by us that the director or officer has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Indemnification under the statute does not exclude any other rights to which a director or officer may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation, by-law, or otherwise.
Article 8, Section 1 of our Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation provides as follows:
1. Indemnification:
The corporation shall indemnify to the full extent from time to time permitted by law any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit, or proceeding and any appeal therein (and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of the corporation or serves or served any other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the corporation. Such right of indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the legal representative of any such person.
Article 8, Section 2 of our Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation provides as follows:
2. Limitation of Liability:
To the full extent from time to time permitted by law, directors and officers of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to the corporation or its shareholders. No amendment or repeal of this provision shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the corporation existing at the time of such amendment or repeal.
Each form of underwriting agreement between us and any underwriters contains a provision under which each underwriter agrees to indemnify our directors and each of our officers who signed the registration statement against certain liabilities which might arise under the Securities Act of 1933 from information furnished to us in writing by or on behalf of such underwriter.
Our directors and officers are insured under policies of insurance, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against claims made against them for acts in the discharge of their duties, and we are insured to the extent that we are required or permitted by law to indemnify the directors and officers for such loss. We pay premiums for such insurance.
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| Item 16. | Exhibits. |
| 1 | To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, if applicable. |
| 2 | Previously filed as Exhibit 4(f) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 001-09120, on February 23, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| 3 | Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1(a) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, File No. 001-09120, on May 4, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| 4 | Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1(b) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, File No. 001-09120, on May 4, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| 5 | Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1(c) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, File No. 001-09120, on May 4, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| 6 | Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-09120, on February 17, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference. |
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| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that:
Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is
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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 of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of such registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, 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 Newark, State of New Jersey, on this 6th day of November, 2026.
| Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | ||
| BY: | /s/ Bradford D. Huntington | |
| Bradford D. Huntington | ||
| Vice President and Treasurer | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has also been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 6, 2026.
| Name |
Capacity | |
| /s/ Ralph LaRossa Ralph LaRossa |
Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ Daniel J. Cregg Daniel J. Cregg |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
| /s/ Rose M. Chernick Rose M. Chernick |
Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
| * Willie A. Deese |
Director | |
| * Jamie M. Gentoso |
Director | |
| * Ricardo G. Pérez |
Director | |
| * Valerie A. Smith |
Director | |
| * Scott G. Stephenson |
Director | |
| * Laura A. Sugg |
Director | |
| * John P. Surma |
Director | |
| * Kenneth Y. Tanji |
Director | |
| * Susan Tomasky |
Director | |
| * Geisha J. Williams |
Director | |
| *BY: | /s/ Bradford D. Huntington | |
| Bradford D. Huntington | ||
| Attorney-In-Fact | ||
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Exhibit 4-2
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
To
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,
Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of ________ __, ______
Providing for the Issuance
of
Subordinated Debt Securities
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of _____ __, ______
| Trust Indenture Indenture Act Section |
Section | |||
| ss. |
310(a)(1) | 607 | ||
| (a)(2) | 607 | |||
| (b) | 608 | |||
| ss. |
312(c) | 701 | ||
| ss. |
314(a) | 703 | ||
| (a)(4) | 1005 | |||
| (c)(1) | 102 | |||
| (c)(2) | 102 | |||
| (e) | 102 | |||
| ss. |
315(b) | 601 | ||
| ss. |
316(a) (last sentence) | 101 | ||
| (Outstanding) | ||||
| (a)(1)(A) | 502, 512 | |||
| (a)(1)(B) | 513 | |||
| (b) | 508 | |||
| ss. |
317(a)(1) | 503 | ||
| (a)(2) | 504 | |||
| ss. |
318(a) | 111 | ||
| (c) | 111 | |||
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE ONE | ||||||
| DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | ||||||
| SECTION 101. |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
| SECTION 102. |
Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 7 | ||||
| SECTION 103. |
Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 8 | ||||
| SECTION 104. |
Acts of Holders | 8 | ||||
| SECTION 105. |
Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company | 9 | ||||
| SECTION 106. |
Notice to Holders; Waiver | 10 | ||||
| SECTION 107. |
Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 10 | ||||
| SECTION 108. |
Successors and Assigns | 10 | ||||
| SECTION 109. |
Separability Clause | 10 | ||||
| SECTION 110. |
Benefits of Indenture | 10 | ||||
| SECTION 111. |
Governing Law | 11 | ||||
| SECTION 112. |
Legal Holidays | 11 | ||||
| ARTICLE TWO |
| |||||
| SECURITIES FORMS |
| |||||
| SECTION 201. |
Forms of Securities | 11 | ||||
| SECTION 202. |
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 11 | ||||
| SECTION 203. |
Securities Issuable in Global Form | 11 | ||||
| ARTICLE THREE | ||||||
| THE SECURITIES | ||||||
| SECTION 301. |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 12 | ||||
| SECTION 302. |
Denominations | 15 | ||||
| SECTION 303. |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 15 | ||||
| SECTION 304. |
Temporary Securities | 16 | ||||
| SECTION 305. |
Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 18 | ||||
| SECTION 306. |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 20 | ||||
| SECTION 307. |
Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset | 21 | ||||
| SECTION 308. |
Optional Extension of Maturity | 23 | ||||
| SECTION 309. |
Persons Deemed Owners | 23 | ||||
| SECTION 310. |
Cancellation | 24 | ||||
| SECTION 311. |
Computation of Interest | 24 | ||||
| SECTION 312. |
Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities | 24 | ||||
| SECTION 313. |
Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent | 26 | ||||
| SECTION 314. |
CUSIP Numbers | 27 | ||||
| ARTICLE FOUR | ||||||
| SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | ||||||
| SECTION 401. |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 27 | ||||
| SECTION 402. |
Application of Trust Funds | 28 | ||||
i
| ARTICLE FIVE | ||||||
| REMEDIES | ||||||
| SECTION 501. |
Events of Default | 28 | ||||
| SECTION 502. |
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 29 | ||||
| SECTION 503. |
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 30 | ||||
| SECTION 504. |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 30 | ||||
| SECTION 505. |
Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons | 31 | ||||
| SECTION 506. |
Application of Money Collected | 31 | ||||
| SECTION 507. |
Limitation on Suits | 31 | ||||
| SECTION 508. |
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 509. |
Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 510. |
Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 511. |
Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 512. |
Control by Holders of Securities | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 513. |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 32 | ||||
| SECTION 514. |
Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 33 | ||||
| ARTICLE SIX | ||||||
| THE TRUSTEE | ||||||
| SECTION 601. |
Notice of Defaults | 33 | ||||
| SECTION 602. |
Certain Rights of Trustee | 33 | ||||
| SECTION 603. |
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities | 34 | ||||
| SECTION 604. |
May Hold Securities | 34 | ||||
| SECTION 605. |
Money Held in Trust | 34 | ||||
| SECTION 606. |
Compensation and Reimbursement | 34 | ||||
| SECTION 607. |
Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 35 | ||||
| SECTION 608. |
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 35 | ||||
| SECTION 609. |
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | 36 | ||||
| SECTION 610. |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 37 | ||||
| SECTION 611. |
Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 37 | ||||
| ARTICLE SEVEN | ||||||
| HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY | ||||||
| SECTION 701. |
Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders | 38 | ||||
| SECTION 702. |
Reports by Trustee | 38 | ||||
| SECTION 703. |
Reports by Company. The Company will: | 38 | ||||
| SECTION 704. |
Calculation of Original Issue Discount | 39 | ||||
| ARTICLE EIGHT | ||||||
| CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER | ||||||
| SECTION 801. |
Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms | 39 | ||||
| SECTION 802. |
Successor Person Substituted | 39 | ||||
| ARTICLE NINE | ||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | ||||||
| SECTION 901. |
Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 40 | ||||
| SECTION 902. |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders | 41 | ||||
| SECTION 903. |
Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 42 | ||||
| SECTION 904. |
Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 42 | ||||
ii
| SECTION 905. |
Conformity with Trust Indenture Act | 42 | ||||
| SECTION 906. |
Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures | 42 | ||||
| SECTION 907. |
Effect on Senior Indebtedness | 42 | ||||
| ARTICLE TEN |
||||||
| COVENANTS |
||||||
| SECTION 1001. |
Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest | 42 | ||||
| SECTION 1002. |
Maintenance of Office or Agency | 42 | ||||
| SECTION 1003. |
Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust | 43 | ||||
| SECTION 1004. |
Additional Amounts | 44 | ||||
| SECTION 1005. |
Statement as to Compliance | 45 | ||||
| SECTION 1006. |
Waiver of Certain Covenants | 45 | ||||
| ARTICLE ELEVEN |
||||||
| REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
||||||
| SECTION 1101. |
Applicability of Article | 45 | ||||
| SECTION 1102. |
Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 45 | ||||
| SECTION 1103. |
Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed | 45 | ||||
| SECTION 1104. |
Notice of Redemption | 46 | ||||
| SECTION 1105. |
Deposit of Redemption Price | 46 | ||||
| SECTION 1106. |
Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 47 | ||||
| SECTION 1107. |
Securities Redeemed in Part | 47 | ||||
| ARTICLE TWELVE |
||||||
| SINKING FUNDS |
||||||
| SECTION 1201. |
Applicability of Article | 47 | ||||
| SECTION 1202. |
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 48 | ||||
| SECTION 1203. |
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 48 | ||||
| ARTICLE THIRTEEN |
||||||
| REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS |
||||||
| SECTION 1301. |
Applicability of Article | 48 | ||||
| SECTION 1302. |
Repayment of Securities | 48 | ||||
| SECTION 1303. |
Exercise of Option | 48 | ||||
| SECTION 1304. |
When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable | 49 | ||||
| SECTION 1305. |
Securities Repaid in Part | 49 | ||||
| ARTICLE FOURTEEN |
||||||
| DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
||||||
| SECTION 1401. |
Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 50 | ||||
| SECTION 1402. |
Defeasance and Discharge | 50 | ||||
| SECTION 1403. |
Covenant Defeasance | 50 | ||||
| SECTION 1404. |
Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 50 | ||||
| SECTION 1405. |
Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 52 | ||||
iii
| ARTICLE FIFTEEN |
||||||
| MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES |
||||||
| SECTION 1501. |
Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called | 52 | ||||
| SECTION 1502. |
Call, Notice and Place of Meetings | 52 | ||||
| SECTION 1503. |
Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings | 53 | ||||
| SECTION 1504. |
Quorum; Action | 53 | ||||
| SECTION 1505. |
Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings | 54 | ||||
| SECTION 1506. |
Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings | 54 | ||||
| ARTICLE SIXTEEN |
||||||
| SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES |
||||||
| SECTION 1601. |
Agreement to Subordinate | 55 | ||||
| SECTION 1602. |
Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities | 55 | ||||
| SECTION 1603. |
No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness | 56 | ||||
| SECTION 1604. |
Payments on Securities Permitted | 56 | ||||
| SECTION 1605. |
Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination | 56 | ||||
| SECTION 1606. |
Notices to Trustee | 56 | ||||
| SECTION 1607. |
Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness | 57 | ||||
| SECTION 1608. |
Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness | 57 | ||||
| SECTION 1609. |
Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen | 57 | ||||
iv
INDENTURE, dated as of ___________, ______, between PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED, a New Jersey corporation (hereinafter called the Company), having its principal office at 80 Park Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102, and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (hereinafter called the Trustee), having a Corporate Trust Office at 333 Thornall St., Edison, NJ 08837.
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes subordinated debt securities (hereinafter called the Securities) evidencing its unsecured and subordinated indebtedness, which may or may not be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities and coupons, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context —————- otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms cash transaction and self-liquidating paper, as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and
(4) the words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five and Article Six, are defined in those Articles.
“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and which are owing to such Holders.
1
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611.
“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
“Bearer Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, the executive committee or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A. or its successor.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.
“Company” means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Company shall mean such successor corporation.
“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(d).
“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was established.
2
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 333 Thornall St., Edison, NJ 08837.
“Corporation” includes corporations, limited liability companies, associations, companies and business trusts.
“Coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.
“Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the ECU, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any reorganized confederation or association of such governments.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.
“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“ECU” means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time to time by the Council of the European Communities.
“Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(h).
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank SA/NV, or its successor as operator of the Euroclear System.
“European Communities” means the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
“European Monetary System” means the European Monetary System established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European Communities.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article Five.
“Exchange Rate Agent”, with respect to Securities of or within any series, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, a New York Clearing House bank designated pursuant to Section 301 or Section 313.
“Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 302 in the relevant currency or currency unit), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation signed by the Treasurer, any Vice President or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
“Foreign Currency” means any Currency, including, without limitation, the ECU issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable, 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 or such government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government, which, in either case, are
3
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, Indenture shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.
“Indexed Security” means a Security as to which all or certain interest payments and/or the principal amount payable at Maturity are determined by reference to prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices, of securities, Currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities or by such other objective price, economic or other measures as are specified in Section 301 hereof.
“Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional Amounts.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, (i) for any conversion involving a currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, London or other principal market for such currency or currency unit in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any currency or currency unit by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such currency or currency unit shall be that upon which a nonresident issuer of securities designated in such currency or currency unit would purchase such currency or currency unit in order to make payments in respect of such securities.
4
“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion or otherwise.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President or by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or who may be an employee of or other counsel for the Company.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above or (iii) below, respectively) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the
5
Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities or coupons on behalf of the Company.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.
“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
“Registered Security” shall mean any Security which is registered in the Security Register.
“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.
“Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
“Security” or Securities has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, Securities with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.
“Security Register” and Security Registrar have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.
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“Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of and premium, if any, and unpaid interest on (i) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than Securities issued hereunder, the 7.44% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series A of the Company, the Floating Rate Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series B of the Company and the 7.25% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series C of the Company), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the Securities, and (ii) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. The Securities are senior and prior in right of payment to the 7.44% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series A of the Company, the Floating Rate Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series B of the Company and the 7.25% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series C of the Company and any guarantees issued in connection therewith and will be senior and prior in right of payment to any debt securities or guarantees which may be issued in connection with issuances of trust preferred securities by Enterprise Capital Trust I, Enterprise Capital Trust II, Enterprise Capital Trust III or Enterprise Funding Trust I.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
“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 or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 308.
“Subsidiary” means any Corporation a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company. For the purposes of this definition, voting stock means stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
“United States Person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
“Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(c).
“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the
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proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1005) shall include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion as to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations as to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof
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of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.
(b) The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may be proved in any manner that the Trustee deems reasonably sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) The ownership of Bearer Securities may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depository, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depository, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depository, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership of Bearer Securities may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.
(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Division, or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
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SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day, such publication to be not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication or, if published more than once, on the date of the first such publication.
If by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 109. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon 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 110. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
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SECTION 111. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New Jersey without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
SECTION 112. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security or coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITIES FORMS
SECTION 201. Forms of Securities. The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution in accordance with Section 301, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.
The definitive Securities and coupons shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or coupons.
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. Subject to Section 611, 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.
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By
Authorized Signatory
SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form. If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a
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Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement, delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 309 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security (i) in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a permanent global Security in bearer form, Euroclear or Clearstream.
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness as provided in Article Sixteen.
The Securities shall rank equally and pari passu and may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series when issued from time to time):
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305);
(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series shall be payable;
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(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which such interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(5) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;
(6) the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;
(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denomination or denominations in which any Bearer Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;
(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
(11) if other than Dollars, the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be made or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;
(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(13) whether the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more Currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are to be paid, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;
(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to any of the provisions of Section 1006) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;
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(16) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series in certificated form and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and, if Registered Securities of the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;
(17) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;
(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;
(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;
(20) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(21) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which, the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1004 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);
(22) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;
(23) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable; and
(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act).
All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 303) and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
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If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.
SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination) shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities of such series, other than Bearer Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in a denomination of $5,000.
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon, and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities and coupons may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.
Securities or coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or coupons.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, together with any coupon appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; and provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture or such other certificate as may be specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent global Bearer Security, then, for purposes of this Section and Section 304, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and canceled. If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate, maturity date, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon,
(i) an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(a) that the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
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(c) that such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities and any coupons; and
(ii) an Officers’ Certificate stating, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of this Section 303, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order, Opinion of Counsel or Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.
No Security or coupon shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security or Security to which such coupon appertains a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 310 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.
(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be
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exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any non-matured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 303. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form. If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London office of a depository or common depository (the Common Depository), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).
Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the Exchange Date), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depository to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depository, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301; and provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.
Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States.
Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date
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upon delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear and Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the Security Register) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed Security Registrar for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.
At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
If (but only if) permitted by the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 303) set forth in the applicable Officers’ Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 301, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section
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1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depository or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption; and provided further that no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
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No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on (A) if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if such Securities are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if such Securities are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor, provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon, 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 or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon 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 and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.
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The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.
(a) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest, if any, on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest, if any, on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 309, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee inside the United States.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest, if any, may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to each of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by the Common Depository, for the purpose of permitting each of Euroclear and Clearstream to credit the interest, if any, received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.
In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called Defaulted Interest) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the
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Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an Optional Reset Date). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the Reset Notice) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a Subsequent Interest Period), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable).
The Holder of any such Security may have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.
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Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity. The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an Extension Period) up to but not beyond the date (the Final Maturity) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the Original Stated Maturity). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the Extension Notice) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), if any, applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee’s transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula used to calculate such higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Stated Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupon be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depository, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depository and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depository (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.
SECTION 310. Cancellation. All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and coupons and Securities and coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Canceled Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee and the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless by a Company Order the Company directs their return to it.
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
SECTION 312. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities.
(a) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to Bearer Securities of any series, except as provided in paragraph (d) below, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Registered or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security or Bearer Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 312 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301.
(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 301, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustee of such series of Registered Securities not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 312(a). The Trustee for each such series of Registered Securities shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.
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(c) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the Valuation Date) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then with respect to each date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the Conversion Date), the Dollar shall be the currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee of each such series of Securities and by such Trustee or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.
(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 312.
(f) The Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.
(g) The Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.
(h) For purposes of this Section 312, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i) A Component Currency shall mean any currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU.
(ii) A Specified Amount of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall
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be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division, and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of Specified Amount) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.
(iii) Election Date shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable series of Registered Securities or at least 16 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be, or such other prior date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause 13 of Section 301 by which the written election referred to in Section 312(b) may be made.
All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities of any such decision or determination.
In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to the ECU or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent.
The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.
SECTION 313. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent.
(a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 301 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Foreign Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, pursuant to Section 312.
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(b) No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the successor Exchange Rate Agent.
(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).
SECTION 314. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the CUSIP numbers of the Securities 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 redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when
(1) either:
(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Securities and coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 1106, and (iv) Securities and coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose
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an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and such coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 611 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501. Events of Default. Event of Default, wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article Sixteen or be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series or of any coupon appertaining thereto, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder; or
(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
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(A) commences a voluntary case,
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
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 other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)):
(A) all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
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(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series and any related coupon when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity,
then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for 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.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any overdue principal, premium or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be provided for in the terms thereof) (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series and coupons 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 to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee under Section 606.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security or coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or coupon in any such proceeding.
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons 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 and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, 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 aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupon shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
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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.
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective due dates expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or coupon has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or coupon 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 of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.
SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities. 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
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. 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 and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or any related coupons, or
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(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities and coupons of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities and coupons of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.
SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):
(1) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(2) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.
(3) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate.
(4) The Trustee may consult with counsel 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.
(5) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
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(6) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.
(7) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(8) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 604. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or such other agent.
SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:
(1) To pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as has been agreed upon in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust).
(2) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith.
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(3) To indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its own part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities or any coupons.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company by or pursuant to a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
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(e) If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of resignation or the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.
(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
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trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities or coupons shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities or coupons so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities or coupons. In case any Securities or coupons shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities or coupons, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.
SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,500,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
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An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By
as Authenticating Agent
By
Authorized Signatory
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders. Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).
SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such May 15 if required by TIA Section 313(a). A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of the listing of the Securities on any stock exchange.
SECTION 703. Reports by Company. The Company will:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such
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Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
SECTION 704. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(1) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the corporation (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and coupons and may be dissolved and liquidated.
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ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or coupons, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
(6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Section 801 or otherwise; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any related coupons as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company); or
(8) 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
(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or
(10) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect.
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SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities and any related coupons under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, subject to the provisions of Section 309; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or change the manner of calculating the rate of interest) thereon, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the portion of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 301 herein, or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1006, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or
(4) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.
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SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall, if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
SECTION 907. Effect on Senior Indebtedness. No supplemental indenture shall adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness under Article Sixteen without the consent of such holder.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity, other than Additional Amounts, if any, payable as provided in Section 1004 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any, on) such a Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain (A) in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served and where Bearer Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented or surrendered for payment in the circumstances described in the following paragraph (and not otherwise), (B) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of
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Payment for that series which is located outside the United States, an office or agency where Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that if the Securities of that series are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such exchange, and (C) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series located outside the United States an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of each such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment at the offices specified in the Security, in London, England, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, no payment of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, that, if the Securities of a series are payable in Dollars, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Bearer Security shall be made at the office of the Company’s Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such principal, premium or interest, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture, is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.
The Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as Places of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.
Except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such principal, premium or interest on any Security, without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 1004. Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of a Security of such series or any coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or payment of any related coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series or any related coupons who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series or related coupons and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series or related coupons until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series or related coupons without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officers’ Certificate.
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SECTION 1005. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 1005, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition, and as specified pursuant to Section 301(15) for Securities of any series, in any covenants of the Company added to Article Ten pursuant to Section 301(14) or Section 301 (15) in connection with the Securities of a series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Securities, by Act of such Holders, waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series issued on the same day with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
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SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.
Any notice that is mailed to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106,
(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,
(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,
(5) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,
(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,
(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,
(8) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee for such series and any Paying Agent is furnished,
(9) if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on this Redemption Date pursuant to Section 305 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made, and
(10) The CUSIP number of such Security, if any.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.
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SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall if the same were interest-bearing cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest; and provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is prior to (or, if specified pursuant to Section 301, on) the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. However, if less than all the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a mandatory sinking fund payment, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an optional sinking fund payment. If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ 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 in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article. Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities. Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.
SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option. Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an Option to Elect Repayment form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the Option to Elect Repayment form on the
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reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable. If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; and provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities, whose Stated Maturity is prior to (or, if specified pursuant to Section 301, on) the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefor as provided in Section 1302 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.
If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part. Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.
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ARTICLE FOURTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, defeasance). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, which shall thereafter be deemed to be Outstanding only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto. Money and securities held in trust pursuant to this Section 1402 shall not be subject to Article Sixteen.
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from any obligations under any covenant specified pursuant to Section 301, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, covenant defeasance), and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series and any coupons appertaining thereto:
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(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, 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, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.
(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that either (i) as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related exercise of the Company’s option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be), registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.
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SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 312(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 312(d) or 312(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.
SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.
(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
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(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.
Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.
Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:
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(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and
(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.
SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the Person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.
(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.
(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.
(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
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ARTICLE SIXTEEN
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 1602. Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):
(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and
(b) Any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and
(c) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its
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creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.
The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen.
If the Trustee or any Holder of Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on behalf of such Holder of Securities.
SECTION 1603. No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness. No payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Securities shall be made unless full payment of amounts then due for principal (premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.
SECTION 1604. Payments on Securities Permitted. Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 1602 and 1603, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such payment more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.
SECTION 1605. Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination. Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 1606. Notices to Trustee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 1606, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
56
The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Sixteen and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
SECTION 1607. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in Section 613 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
Nothing in this Article Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606.
SECTION 1608. Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness. Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee.
No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article Sixteen or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.
SECTION 1609. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen. The Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.
57
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP
INCORPORATED
By
SEAL
Vice President and Treasurer
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By
SEAL
Vice President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
58
| STATE OF NEW JERSEY | ) | |
| ) ss: | ||
| COUNTY OF ESSEX | ) |
On the __________________ day of _____, ______, before me personally came to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at ___________, New Jersey _____; that he is Vice President and Treasurer of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, one of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.
Notarial Seal
Notary Public
COMMISSION EXPIRES
| STATE OF NEW JERSEY | ) | |
| ) ss: | ||
| COUNTY OF ESSEX | ) |
On the __________________ day of _______, ______, before me personally came __________________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at _______________; that he is a ______________ of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, one of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.
Notarial Seal
Notary Public
COMMISSION EXPIRES
59
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY PERSON ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE BEARER SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST
PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE
[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]
This is to certify that, as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source (United States person(s)), (ii) are owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as financial institutions) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.
As used herein, United States means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its possessions include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
We undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your Operating Procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.
This certificate excepts and does not relate to U.S.$______ of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Global Security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.
We understand that this certificate may be required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.
Dated: , 20
[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to (i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]
[Name of Person Making Certification]
(Authorized Signatory)
Name:
Title:
A-1
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND
CLEARSTREAM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF
A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY
OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR
TO THE EXCHANGE DATE
[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]
This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our Member Organizations) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, U.S.$ _________ principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (United States person(s)), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as financial institutions) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, to the further effect, that financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.
As used herein, United States means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its possessions include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.
We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.
Dated: , 20
[To be dated no earlier than the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]
[Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as Operator of the Euroclear System] [Clearstream]
By
A-2
Exhibit 5
| John C. Walmsley | PSEG Services Corporation | |
| Associate Counsel | 80 Park Plaza, T20, Newark, NJ 07102-4194 | |
| Email: Chris.Walmsley@pseg.com | ||
November 6, 2026
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
80 Park Plaza
Newark, NJ 07102
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished in connection with the preparation and filing by Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”), of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration of the offer, issuance and sale from time to time of an indeterminate amount of the Company’s: (i) senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to a Senior Debt Indenture dated as of November 1, 1998 between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee (as amended or supplemented, the “Senior Debt Indenture”) or a Subordinated Debt Indenture to be entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture” and, together with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures”); and any applicable supplemental indenture under such Indentures; (ii) common stock, without par value (the “Common Stock”), including 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued under the PSEG Enterprise Direct Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”); (iii) preferred stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”); (iv) stock purchase contracts to purchase Common Stock (“Stock Purchase Contracts”); and (v) stock purchase units, each representing ownership of a Stock Purchase Contract and any Debt Securities, or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing a holder’s obligation to purchase Common Stock under the Stock Purchase Contract (“Stock Purchase Units”).
I have examined the Registration Statement, the Indentures, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as amended), the Company’s By-Laws and such other agreements, instruments, documents and records and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials which I deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination, I have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies; and (c) the truth, accuracy, and completeness of the information, representations, and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates I have reviewed.
The opinions expressed below are based on the following assumptions:
(a) the Registration Statement will have become effective;
(b) the proposed transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement will have been carried out on the basis set forth therein and in conformity with the authorizations, approvals, consents, or exemptions under the securities laws of various states and other jurisdictions of the United States;
(c) prior to the issuance of any Debt Securities, shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), a committee thereof, or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to delegated authority from the Board, will have, as applicable: (i) authorized the Subordinated Debt Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereunder, any supplemental indenture under the Senior Debt Indenture, the Stock Purchase Contracts or the Stock Purchase Units; (ii) authorized the issuance of, and established the terms of, such Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units; or (iii) authorized the issuance of such Common Stock;
(d) prior to the issuance of any Debt Securities, the applicable Indenture will have been qualified in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
(e) prior to the issuance of any Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, the Subordinated Debt Indenture, any supplemental indenture under the Indentures, the Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and all collateral and related agreements will have been properly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto (including the Company), as applicable; and
(f) prior to the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation setting forth the terms of the Preferred Stock will have been executed and filed with the State of New Jersey.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations herein, I am of the opinion that:
1. When the Debt Securities have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the applicable Trustee and when delivered against payment of the requisite consideration therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
2. When shares of Common Stock have been duly executed by the Company and when delivered against payment of the requisite consideration therefor, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. When shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed by the Company and when delivered against payment of the requisite consideration therefor, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4. When the Stock Purchase Contracts have been delivered against payment of the requisite consideration therefor, such Stock Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. When the Stock Purchase Units have been delivered against payment of the requisite consideration therefor, such Stock Purchase Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
With respect to enforceability, the above opinions in paragraphs 1, 4 and 5 are qualified to the extent that enforcement of the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Stock Purchase Units may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
The foregoing opinions are given as of the date hereof and are limited to matters arising under laws of the States of New Jersey and New York as in effect on the date hereof and I express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other jurisdiction. I hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of my name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act or the related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this letter as an exhibit or otherwise.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ John C. Walmsley |
| John C. Walmsley |
| Associate Counsel |
| PSEG Services Corporation |
Exhibit 23-1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 26, 2026 relating to the financial statements of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated and subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2025. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectuses, that are part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Morristown, New Jersey
November 6, 2026
Exhibit 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned hereby severally constitutes and appoints Bradford D. Huntington and Grace H. Park, and each of them individually (with full power to act without the other), the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents (with full power of substitution and resubstitution) for and on behalf of the undersigned, and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead, in the undersigned’s capacity as a Director or Officer or both, as the case may be, of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (the “Registrant”) to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any amendments thereto, and all post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, for the registration of the securities of the Registrant, each in such form as they or any one of them may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and their substitutes and resubstitutes, and each of them individually, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done to the end that such Registration Statement shall comply with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his or her substitutes or resubstitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this instrument, this 15th day of September, 2026.
| /s/ Ralph A. LaRossa |
/s/ Scott G. Stephenson | |||||
| Ralph A. LaRossa | Scott G. Stephenson | |||||
| /s/ Daniel J. Cregg |
/s/ Laura A. Sugg | |||||
| Daniel J. Cregg | Laura A. Sugg | |||||
| /s/ Rose M. Chernick |
/s/ John P. Surma | |||||
| Rose M. Chernick | John P. Surma | |||||
| /s/ Willie A. Deese |
/s/ Kenneth Y. Tanji | |||||
| Willie A. Deese | Kenneth Y. Tanji | |||||
| /s/ Jamie M. Gentoso |
/s/ Susan Tomasky | |||||
| Jamie M. Gentoso | Susan Tomasky | |||||
| /s/ Ricardo G. Pérez |
/s/ Geisha J. Williams | |||||
| Ricardo G. Pérez | Geisha J. Williams | |||||
| /s/ Valerie A. Smith |
||||||
| Valerie A. Smith | ||||||
Exhibit 25-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
| 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Mark DiGiacomo
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
333 Thornall Street
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 321-2512
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| New Jersey | 22-2625848 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
| 80 Park Plaza Newark, New Jersey |
07102 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Senior Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2026, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the Town of Edison, State of New Jersey on the 27th of October, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Mark DiGiacomo | |
| Mark DiGiacomo | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
- 1 -
Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
Exhibit 2
Office of the Oompboller of the Currency Washirlgton, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby|certify that: 1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “U.S. Bank Trust Company National Association,” Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 5, 2026, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, Distriet of Columbia. Comptroller of the Currency 2026-01213-C
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
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by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
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Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
4
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
5
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Who Shall Constitute. The Officers of the Association shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and other officers such as Vice Chair, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Trust Officers, Assistant Trust Officers, Controller, and Assistant Controller, as the Board may appoint from time to time. The Board may appoint or elect a person as a Vice Chair without regard to whether such person is a member of the Board. The Board may choose to delegate authority to elect officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chairs and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President. Any person may hold two offices. The President shall at all times be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Term of Office. All officers shall be elected for and shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to discharge any officer at any time. The Board may choose to delegate authority to remove officers other than the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chair and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President.
Section 4.3. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.4. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
6
Section 4.5. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.6. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.7. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
7
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
8
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e-mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
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ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(November 6, 2025)
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: October 27, 2026
| By: | /s/ Mark DiGiacomo | |
| Mark DiGiacomo | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 6/30/2026
($000’s)
| 6/30/2026 | ||||
| Assets |
||||
| Cash and Balances Due From |
$ | 2,474,094 | ||
| Securities |
4,673 | |||
| Federal Funds |
0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
| Fixed Assets |
447 | |||
| Intangible Assets |
573,109 | |||
| Other Assets |
154,375 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Assets |
$ | 3,206,698 | ||
| Liabilities |
||||
| Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds |
0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
| Acceptances |
0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities |
268,325 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Liabilities |
$ | 268,325 | ||
| Equity |
||||
| Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
| Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits |
1,766,538 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Equity Capital |
$ | 2,938,373 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 3,206,698 | ||
Exhibit 25-2
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
| 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Mark DiGiacomo
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
333 Thornall Street
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 321-2512
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| New Jersey | 22-2625848 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 80 Park Plaza Newark, New Jersey |
07102 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Subordinated Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2026, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the Town of Edison, State of New Jersey on the 27th of October, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Mark DiGiacomo | |
| Mark DiGiacomo | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
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Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
Exhibit 2
Office of the Oompboller of the C11Jrrency Washirlgton, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby|certify that: 1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “U.S. Bank Trust Company National Association,” Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is anthorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 5, 2026, I have hereunto subscribed my name and cansed my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. Comptroller of the Currency
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
2
by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
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Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
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The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
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ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Who Shall Constitute. The Officers of the Association shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and other officers such as Vice Chair, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Trust Officers, Assistant Trust Officers, Controller, and Assistant Controller, as the Board may appoint from time to time. The Board may appoint or elect a person as a Vice Chair without regard to whether such person is a member of the Board. The Board may choose to delegate authority to elect officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chairs and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President. Any person may hold two offices. The President shall at all times be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Term of Office. All officers shall be elected for and shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to discharge any officer at any time. The Board may choose to delegate authority to remove officers other than the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chair and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President.
Section 4.3. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.4. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
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Section 4.5. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.6. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.7. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association.
Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
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ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
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Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e-mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
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ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(November 6, 2025)
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: October 27, 2026
| By: | /s/ Mark DiGiacomo | |
| Mark DiGiacomo | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 6/30/2026
($000’s)
| 6/30/2026 | ||||
|
|
|
|||
| Assets |
||||
| Cash and Balances Due From |
$ | 2,474,094 | ||
| Securities |
4,673 | |||
| Federal Funds |
0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
| Fixed Assets |
447 | |||
| Intangible Assets |
573,109 | |||
| Other Assets |
154,375 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Assets |
$ | 3,206,698 | ||
| Liabilities |
||||
| Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds |
0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
| Acceptances |
0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities |
268,325 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Liabilities |
$ | 268,325 | ||
| Equity |
||||
| Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
| Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits |
1,766,538 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Equity Capital |
$ | 2,938,373 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 3,206,698 | ||