As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2026
Registration No. 333-
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp S-3ASR, filed Oct 21, 2026
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp (WAB)
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation established an automatic shelf registration to offer debt and equity securities from time to time; net proceeds are intended for general corporate purposes. AI summary
S-3ASR
2026-10-21
View Original
Added on
October 22, 2026
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 25-1615902 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
+1 (412) 825-1000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
David L. DeNinno, Esq.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
+1 (412) 825-1000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a Copy to:
Peter E. Devlin
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
(212) 326-3978
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||||||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||||||||
Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter and Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices* | State or Other Jurisdiction Of Organization | I.R.S. Employer Identification Number | Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code | ||||||
GE Transportation, a Wabtec Company | Delaware | 83-0543909 | 3743 | ||||||
RFPC Holding Corp. | Delaware | 51-0345158 | 3743 | ||||||
Transportation IP Holdings, LLC | Delaware | 06-1554217 | 3743 | ||||||
Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc. | Nevada | 06-1105824 | 3743 | ||||||
Wabtec Components LLC | Delaware | 36-2704499 | 3743 | ||||||
Wabtec Holding, LLC | Delaware | 23-2870660 | 3743 | ||||||
Wabtec Railway Electronics Holdings, LLC | Delaware | N/A | 3743 | ||||||
Wabtec Transportation Systems, LLC | Delaware | N/A | 3743 | ||||||
Wabtec US Rail, Inc. | Delaware | 83-0598308 | 3743 | ||||||
* | The address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of each additional registrant is c/o David L. DeNinno, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, 30 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, telephone number (412) 825-1000. The name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the agent for service for each additional registrant is David L. DeNinno, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, 30 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, telephone number (412) 825-1000. |
Prospectus
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Depositary Shares
Purchase Contracts
Units
We may offer to sell from time to time, in one or more classes or series, debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts or units, or any combination of these securities. The debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. Certain of our direct and indirect subsidiaries may guarantee our debt securities and such guarantees of debt securities may be sold in combination with any of the other securities listed above.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol “WAB.” If we decide to seek a listing of any securities offered by this prospectus, we will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any, in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered and the manner in which they may be offered will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that contains a description of those securities. You should consider carefully the “Risk Factors” described on page 2 and in any applicable prospectus supplement before investing in any of our securities offered by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus or determined if this prospectus is truthful and complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is October 21, 2026.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing an automatic “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell from time to time any securities described in this prospectus, individually or in any combination, in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may change after that date. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain or incorporate by reference specific information about the terms of that offering. Each prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than as contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and, if given or made, we and any underwriter, agent, dealer or remarketing firm take no responsibility for such information or representations. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under this prospectus shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
ii
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The SEC’s Internet address is http://www.sec.gov. In addition, our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and our reports and other information can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our Internet address is http://www.wabtec.com. The information on our Internet site is not a part of this prospectus.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information we incorporate in this manner is considered part of this prospectus except to the extent updated and superseded by information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including through information subsequently incorporated by reference. Some information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any filings that we make with the SEC in the future under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus, including between the date of this prospectus and the date on which any offering of securities under this prospectus is terminated, except as noted in the paragraph below:
• | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2026; |
• | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026, June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026, filed with the SEC on April 22, 2026, July 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026, respectively; |
• | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026; |
• | the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026 that are deemed “filed” with the SEC under the Exchange Act; and |
• | the description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus.
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to in this prospectus do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the particular provisions of that contract, agreement or other document, those references are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in that contract, agreement or other document. For a more complete understanding and description of each such contract, agreement or other document, we urge you to read the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in
iii
this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Requests should be directed to: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, 30 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number: (412) 825-1000.
You also may review a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits through the SEC’s Internet site, http://www.sec.gov.
iv
This summary is a brief discussion of material information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, as further described above under “Where You Can Find More Information.” This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in any securities being offered by this prospectus. We urge you to carefully read this entire prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities that you propose to buy, especially any description of investment risks that we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. References to “Wabtec,” the “registrant,” “we,” “our,” “us” and similar terms mean Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
We are a global provider of value-added, technology-based locomotives, equipment, systems and services for the freight rail and passenger transit industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets and applications. Our highly engineered rail and transit products, which are designed to enhance safety, improve productivity and reduce maintenance costs for customers, can be found on most locomotives, freight cars, passenger transit cars and buses around the world. Our core products and services are essential in the safe and efficient operation of freight rail and passenger transit vehicles. Wabtec is a global company with operations in over 50 countries and our products can be found in more than 100 countries throughout the world.
We are a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 30 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212. Our telephone number is (412) 825-1000.
1
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks involved in an investment in our securities, as set forth in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as updated in our subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the other risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties that we discuss in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus are those that we believed as of the date of the document to be risks which may materially affect our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not then known to us or that we then believed to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
2
You should carefully review the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on our management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.
You can identify these forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “endeavors,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “outlook,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” “will likely result,” “would,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.
We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will be realized, although we believe that we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Among others, the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and any of our subsequently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K could cause actual results to differ from those in forward-looking statements included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or that we otherwise make. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others:
Economic and industry conditions
• | changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions, including the impacts of tax and tariff programs, inflation, supply chain disruptions, foreign currency exchange, and industry consolidation; |
• | the impacts of significant recent shifts in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs, retaliatory tariff measures, and subsequent modifications or suspensions thereof, and market reactions to such policies and resulting trade disputes; |
• | prolonged unfavorable economic and industry conditions in the markets served by us, including North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa; |
• | decline in demand for freight cars, locomotives, passenger transit cars, buses and related products and services; |
• | reliance on major original equipment manufacturer customers; |
• | original equipment manufacturers’ program delays; |
• | decreased demand for services in the freight and passenger rail industry; |
• | decreased demand for our products and services; |
• | orders either being delayed, canceled, not returning to historical levels or being reduced, and/or economic conditions affecting the ability of our customers to pay timely for goods and services delivered; |
• | consolidations in the rail industry; |
• | continued outsourcing by our customers; |
• | industry demand for faster and more efficient braking equipment; |
• | fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; |
• | availability of credit or difficulty in obtaining debt or equity financing; |
• | changes in market consensus as to what attributes are required for projects to be considered “green” or “sustainable” or negative perceptions regarding determinations in such regard with respect to our Green Finance Framework or sustainability strategy; or |
• | changes in the sustainability topics that have the highest relative priority for our external stakeholders; |
3
Operating factors
• | supply disruptions; |
• | technical difficulties; |
• | changes in operating conditions and costs; |
• | increases in raw material costs; |
• | challenges associated with the successful introduction of new products; |
• | product safety, quality and reliability; |
• | performance under material long-term contracts; |
• | labor availability constraints and labor relations challenges; |
• | the outcome of our existing or any future legal proceedings, including litigation involving our principal customers and any litigation with respect to environmental matters, asbestos-related matters, pension liabilities, warranties, product liabilities, competition and anti-trust matters or intellectual property claims; |
• | our ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; |
• | risks associated with the development and use of new technology; or |
• | cybersecurity and data protection risks; |
Competitive factors
• | the actions of competitors; or |
• | adverse outcomes of negotiations with partners, suppliers, customers or others; |
Political/governmental factors
• | political instability in relevant areas of the world, including the impacts of war, conflicts, global military action, and acts of terrorism; |
• | future regulation/deregulation of our customers and/or the rail industry; |
• | decreases in levels of governmental funding on transit projects, including for some of our customers; |
• | political developments and laws and regulations, including those related to Positive Train Control; |
• | consequences of federal and state income tax legislation; |
• | sanctions imposed on countries and persons; or |
• | the outcome of negotiations with governments; |
Natural hazards / health crises
• | impacts of climate change, including evolving climate change policy; |
• | disruptive natural hazards, including earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes or other weather conditions; |
• | epidemics, pandemics, or similar public health crises; |
• | deterioration of general economic conditions as a result of natural hazards or health crises; |
• | shutdown of one or more of our operating facilities as a result of natural hazards and health crises; or |
• | supply chain and sourcing disruptions as a result of natural hazards, health crises or other external factors. |
Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you consider, and should not place undue reliance on, any forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. You are advised, however, to consider any additional disclosures that we may make on related subjects in future filings with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all factors that could cause our actual results to differ. Consequently, you should not consider any list of factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.
4
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, investments in or loans to subsidiaries and joint ventures, funding of acquisitions, working capital, contributions to one or more of our pension plans, satisfaction of other obligations and repurchase of our outstanding debt or equity securities. Pending any such use, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities may be invested in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing instruments. We will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of securities under this prospectus.
5
The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time under this prospectus. The financial terms and other specific terms of the debt securities being offered will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the issuance of those securities. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. Although the debt securities that we may offer include debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars, we also may choose to offer debt securities in any other currency, including the euro. Any debt securities issued by us may be guaranteed by one or more of our direct and indirect subsidiaries named as co-registrants in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
The debt securities are governed by documents called “indentures.” The indentures are contracts between us and a financial institution acting as the trustee. The trustee has two main roles. First, under certain circumstances, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee may act on your behalf, as described under “—Events of Default—Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities, the relevant indenture and any relevant supplemental indenture described in the related prospectus supplement, including definitions used in the relevant indenture and any relevant supplemental indenture. The particular terms of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, the relevant indenture and any relevant supplemental indenture may vary from the terms described below.
General
The debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We may issue senior debt securities under one or more senior indentures among us, any applicable Subsidiary Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as series trustee, including an existing Indenture, dated as of August 8, 2013, between us and Computershare Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as original trustee, which we refer to in this prospectus as the existing indenture, and a supplemental indenture thereto as contemplated therein. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will serve as trustee with respect to the senior debt securities issued pursuant to any such supplemental indenture to the existing indenture. In this prospectus, we refer to any indenture pursuant to which senior debt securities offered under this prospectus may be issued, including the existing indenture, as any such indenture may be supplemented, as a senior indenture. We may issue subordinated debt securities under one or more subordinated indentures among us, any applicable Subsidiary Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. In this prospectus, we refer to any indenture pursuant to which subordinated debt securities offered under this prospectus may be issued, as any such indenture may be supplemented, as a subordinated indenture. Senior indentures and subordinated indentures are sometimes referred to collectively in this prospectus as indentures.
The existing indenture is, and any other indenture will be, governed by New York law. Copies of the existing indenture and forms of a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture pursuant to which we may issue debt securities that are offered under this prospectus have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these indentures.
We may offer the debt securities from time to time in as many distinct series as we may choose. All debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of ours. Any senior debt securities that we offer under this prospectus will have the same rank as all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any subordinated debt securities that we offer under this prospectus will be subordinate in right of payment to our senior indebtedness. The existing indenture does not, and any other indenture may not, limit either the amount of debt that we may issue thereunder or the amount of other unsecured debt or other securities that we or our subsidiaries may issue.
Our primary sources of payment for our payment obligations under the debt securities will be revenues from our operations and investments and cash distributions from our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation whatsoever to pay any amounts due on debt securities issued by us or to make funds available to us, except to the extent that they have agreed to guarantee such obligations of ours. Our
6
subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us will depend upon their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and contractual restrictions. The existing indenture does not, and any other indenture may not, restrict our subsidiaries from entering into agreements that prohibit or limit their ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us.
To the extent that we must rely on cash from our subsidiaries to pay amounts due on the debt securities, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities, including their trade payables, of our subsidiaries (other than subsidiaries that guarantee the debt securities). This means that such subsidiaries may be required to pay all of their creditors in full before their assets are available to us. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of such subsidiaries, our claims would be effectively subordinated to any security interests in their assets and also could be subordinated to some or all other claims on their assets and earnings.
Other than the restrictions described below or any restrictions described in an applicable prospectus supplement, the existing indenture does not, and any other indenture and the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus will not, contain any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the debt securities if we participate in a highly leveraged transaction.
You should look in the applicable prospectus supplement for the following terms of the debt securities being offered:
• | the title of the debt securities; |
• | if other than U.S. currency, the currency in which the debt securities may be purchased and the currency in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be paid; |
• | the total principal amount of the debt securities; |
• | the price at which the debt securities will be issued; |
• | the date or dates on which the debt securities will mature and the right, if any, to extend the maturity date or dates; |
• | the annual rate or rates, if any, at which the debt securities will bear interest, including the method of calculating interest if a floating rate is used; |
• | the date or dates from which the interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which the interest will be payable or the manner of determination of the interest payment dates and the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable; |
• | the place or places where principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable; |
• | any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provision; |
• | the application, if any, of defeasance provisions to the debt securities; |
• | if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the debt securities that would be payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities; |
• | any obligation we may have to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, repurchase or repayment; |
• | the form of debt securities, including whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders; |
• | if the amount of payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, the manner in which that amount will be determined; |
• | whether the debt securities will be guaranteed by one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors and, if so, the identity of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantors and whether any subordination provisions or other limitations are applicable to any such guarantees; |
• | any additional covenants applicable to the debt securities; |
• | any additional events of default applicable to the debt securities; |
7
• | the terms of conversion, if applicable; |
• | the terms of subordination of the debt securities, if applicable; |
• | any material provisions described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities; and |
• | any other material terms of the debt securities, including any additions, deletions or other changes to the terms described in this prospectus, and any terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
In addition to the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we may issue other debt securities in public or private offerings from time to time. These other debt securities may be issued under documentation that is not described in this prospectus, and those debt securities may contain provisions materially different from the provisions applicable to one or more issues of debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.
Debt Guarantees
Debt securities offered by us may be guaranteed by one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Subsidiary Guarantors are named as co-registrants in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any guarantee of debt securities offered by us will be set forth in the applicable indenture or a related supplemental indenture and described in an applicable prospectus supplement. The payment obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor will rank equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor, senior in right of payment to all expressly subordinated indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor, effectively subordinate to all existing and future secured indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinate to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries (other than indebtedness and liabilities owed to such Subsidiary Guarantor).
Original Issue Discount
Any series of debt securities offered under this prospectus may be sold at a substantial discount below its stated principal amount, bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. The federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any series of debt securities generally will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Restrictive Covenants
The existing indenture contains, and any other indenture may contain, certain covenants for the benefit only of holders of the debt securities governed by the applicable indenture. The covenants summarized below will apply to each series of debt securities issued pursuant to any of the indentures as long as any of those debt securities are outstanding, unless waived, amended or the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise.
Payment. We will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities in accordance with the terms of such debt securities and the applicable indenture. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, at or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, redemption date or repurchase date, the Company shall deposit with the paying agent money sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities in accordance with the terms of such securities and the indenture.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and the paying agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, the holder of that debt security must look to the Company for payment as general creditors, unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person (as defined below), and all liability of the trustee and the paying agent with respect to such money shall cease.
8
Merger and Consolidation. We may not consolidate with or merge into any other person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof (each, a “Person”), unless:
• | either (i) we are the surviving corporation or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the outstanding debt securities issued under the applicable indenture is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any such resulting, surviving or transferee entity expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under the applicable indenture and the outstanding debt securities issued under the applicable indenture, by a supplemental indenture to which we are a party; |
• | there is no default or event of default that shall have occurred or be continuing under the applicable indenture immediately after giving effect to such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposal; and |
• | the resulting or transferee entity shall have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposal complies with the applicable indenture. |
Upon such a succession described in clause (ii) of the first bullet above and compliance with the second and third bullets above, we will be relieved from any further obligations under the applicable indenture.
Waiver of Certain Covenants. Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may, with respect to the debt securities of any series, omit to comply with any covenant provided in the terms of those debt securities if, before the time for such compliance, holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series waive such compliance in that instance or generally.
Events of Default
You will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. Unless described otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, the term “Event of Default” means any of the following with respect to an issue of debt securities offered under this prospectus:
• | we fail to pay any interest on an issue of debt securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of that issue of debt securities; |
• | we fail to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) an issue of debt securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when due and payable; |
• | we fail to pay any sinking fund installment on an issue of debt securities when it becomes due and payable by the terms of that issue of debt securities, and such default continues for 30 days of such installment becoming due and payable; |
• | we or any Subsidiary Guarantor, if applicable, fail to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in the applicable debt securities or indenture (other than a covenant or agreement that we have included in the applicable indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities issued under that indenture) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of a series of debt securities affected by that failure, a written notice specifying the failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the applicable indenture; |
• | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; |
• | to the extent applicable, and except as may otherwise be permitted by the applicable indenture, if any guarantee of the applicable series of debt securities is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under the guarantee of the applicable series of debt securities; or |
• | any other Event of Default described in the applicable prospectus supplement occurs. |
Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs. Unless provided otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, if an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, has occurred and continues with respect to an issue of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of at
9
least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may require us to pay immediately the principal amount of all of the debt securities of the affected series plus accrued and unpaid interest on such securities. This is called a “declaration of acceleration of maturity.” If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization has occurred and continues with respect to an issue of debt securities, the principal amount of all of the debt securities of the affected series plus accrued and unpaid interest on such securities will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the trustee or the holders of such debt securities. Under some circumstances, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be rescinded and annulled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series.
The trustee under the existing indenture generally is not, and the trustee under any other indenture generally will not be, required to take any action under that indenture at the request of any holders unless one or more of the holders has provided to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, provided that (i) such direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture, (ii) the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with that direction and (iii) the trustee has the right to decline to follow the direction if the trustee in good faith determines that the proceeding so directed would expose the trustee to personal liability or that it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with such direction.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may, on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of that series, waive certain past defaults under the applicable indenture with respect to that series and its consequences.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing regarding a series of debt securities, the applicable trustee may use any sums that it holds under the relevant indenture for its own reasonable compensation and expenses incurred prior to paying the holders of debt securities of that series.
Before any holder of any series of debt securities may pursue any remedy under the applicable indenture, except enforcement of any overdue payment regarding a series of debt securities, the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series must request the trustee to take action by giving the trustee a written notice of a continuing Event of Default for such series of debt securities. Holders must also furnish to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the trustee for taking such action. The trustee must also fail to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity and, during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
“Street Name” and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the applicable trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.
We will furnish every year to the trustee under each indenture a written statement of certain of our officers certifying, among other things, that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with that indenture and the debt securities offered pursuant to that indenture, or else specifying any default.
An Event of Default regarding one series of debt securities issued under an indenture is not necessarily an Event of Default regarding any other series of debt securities issued under that indenture or otherwise.
Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The following discussion of satisfaction and discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to a series of debt securities only if we choose to have them apply to that series. If we do so choose, we will state that in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Satisfaction and Discharge. Each indenture will be satisfied and discharged with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under that indenture if:
• | we deliver to the trustee all debt securities of that series then outstanding for cancellation; or |
• | all outstanding debt securities of that series not delivered to the trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of |
10
notice of redemption by the trustee in our name and at our expense, and, in any such case, we irrevocably deposit with the trustee, as funds in trust for such purpose, cash, certain U.S. government obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash, or a combination of cash and such U.S. government obligations, in an amount sufficient (in the case of U.S. government obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification) to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness for principal of and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest on such debt securities to the date of maturity or redemption, provided that in either case we have paid all other sums payable under that indenture. In addition, we must deliver an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to such series of debt securities have been satisfied.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The existing indenture provides, and any other indenture will provide, if such provision is made applicable to the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture, that, upon the deposit with the trustee (or other qualifying trustee), as funds in trust for such purpose, of cash or certain U.S. government obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash, or a combination of cash and such U.S. government obligations, in an amount sufficient (in the case of U.S. government obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification) to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on such debt securities, on the scheduled due dates:
• | we may elect to be discharged from our obligations under the applicable indenture with respect to any debt securities of such series and our obligations described under “—Merger and Consolidation” will be terminated with respect to such debt securities; in such case, we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such debt securities; however, certain obligations, among others, to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust will survive until all debt securities of such series are no longer outstanding (“legal defeasance”); or |
• | we may terminate certain of our obligations under the applicable indenture and the applicable debt securities, in which case the applicable indenture will cease to be of further effect, except that our obligations (i) to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, with respect to any debt securities of such series, (ii) as described under “—Merger and Consolidation,” (iii) to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, (iv) to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, (v) to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities, (vi) to hold moneys for payment in trust, (vii) to indemnify the trustee for its services under the applicable indenture, (viii) with respect to any replacement of the trustee, and (ix) the Events of Default described in the third, fourth and sixth bullets under “—Events of Default,” shall not be Events of Default under that indenture with respect to such series, and the trustee, upon our demand, will execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge under the applicable indenture (“covenant defeasance”). |
In the case of legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, a trust may only be established if, among other things, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing on the date of deposit and we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the applicable indenture) or, in the case of covenant defeasance, an opinion of counsel or a binding tax ruling, in each case to the effect that the holders of the debt securities affected thereby will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or 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 legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of legal defeasance described above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law (including regulations) occurring after the date of the applicable indenture. We also will deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
11
Modification and Waiver
The existing indenture contains, and any other indenture may contain, provisions permitting us and the trustee to modify that indenture or enter into or modify any supplemental indenture without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of a particular series in the following circumstances:
• | to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency as evidenced in an officers’ certificate; |
• | to provide for the assumption of our obligations under the applicable indenture by a successor or transferee upon any permitted merger, consolidation or asset transfer; |
• | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
• | to provide any security for or guarantees of the securities issued under the applicable indenture or for the addition of an additional obligor on the securities issued under the applicable indenture; |
• | to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of the applicable indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if applicable; |
• | to add covenants that would benefit the holders of debt securities of the applicable series or to surrender any rights we have under the applicable indenture; |
• | to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture, provided that any such change or elimination is not effective with respect to any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the execution of the applicable supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
• | to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new series of debt securities to be issued under the applicable indenture; |
• | to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the debt securities of any series otherwise in accordance with the existing terms of the applicable indenture; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
• | to issue additional debt securities of any series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture, provided that such additional debt securities have the same terms as, and are deemed part of the same series as, the applicable series to the extent required under the applicable indenture; and provided further that if the additional debt securities are not fungible with such existing series of debt securities for United States federal income tax purposes, the additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP number; |
• | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; |
• | to add additional events of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under that indenture; |
• | to make any change that does not adversely affect any outstanding debt securities in any material respect; and |
• | to add guarantors with respect to any series of debt securities issued under that indenture, to secure any or all of debt securities of any series or any guarantee of the debt securities, to provide for the addition of an additional obligor on the applicable series of debt securities or confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any guarantee with respect to any series of debt securities issued under that indenture to the extent that such release, termination or discharge is permitted under the terms of the applicable indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture. |
We and the trustee under an indenture may otherwise modify that indenture or any supplemental indenture relating to that indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of debt securities affected thereby at the time outstanding, except that no such modifications shall, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby:
• | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of that series, the consent of whose holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver; |
• | reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on debt securities of that series; |
12
• | reduce the principal of the debt securities of that series or change the stated maturity of the debt securities of that series; |
• | reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt securities of that series or change the time at which the debt securities of that series may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt securities of that series; |
• | make payments on the debt securities of that series payable in currency other than as originally stated in such debt securities; |
• | impair the holders’ right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities of that series; or |
• | waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on the debt securities of that series. |
With respect to any vote of holders of a series of debt securities, we will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the applicable indenture.
“Street Name” and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or debt securities or request a waiver.
Subordinated Debt Securities
Although the existing indenture and the forms of senior indenture and subordinated indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part are generally similar and many of the provisions discussed above pertain to both senior and subordinated debt securities, there are certain substantive differences between the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This section discusses some of those differences.
Subordination. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to all senior indebtedness. “Senior indebtedness” is defined to mean, among other things, the principal, premium (if any) and unpaid interest on all present and future indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), unless, in any case, in the instrument creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness or obligation is not senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities or it is expressly provided that such obligation is subordinated to other of our indebtedness and obligations.
Terms of Subordinated Debt Securities May Contain Conversion or Exchange Provisions. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific terms discussed above that apply to the subordinated debt securities being offered thereby as well as any applicable conversion or exchange provisions.
Modification of an Indenture Relating to Subordinated Debt Securities. Each subordinated indenture may be modified by us and the trustee without the consent of the holders of the subordinated debt securities for one or more of the purposes discussed above under “—Modification and Waiver.” We and the trustee may also modify each subordinated indenture to make provision with respect to any conversion or exchange rights for a given issue of subordinated debt securities.
“Street Name” and Other Indirect Holders
Investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers generally will not be recognized by us as legal holders of debt securities. This is called holding in “Street Name.” Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution that the bank or broker uses to hold its securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the debt securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to. If you hold debt securities in “Street Name,” you should check with your own institution to find out:
• | how it handles payments and notices; |
• | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
• | how it would handle voting, if applicable; |
13
• | whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a direct holder, as described below; and |
• | if applicable, how it would pursue rights under your debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests. |
Direct Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of each trustee under the indentures and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee under each of the indentures, run or will run, as the case may be, only to persons who are registered as holders of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture. As noted above, we and the trustee do not have obligations to you if you hold in “Street Name” or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold debt securities in that manner or because the debt securities are issued in the form of global securities, as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we and the trustee have no further responsibility for the payment, even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a “Street Name” customer but does not do so.
Global Securities
What is a Global Security? A global security is a special type of indirectly held debt security as described above under “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders.” If we choose to issue debt securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only hold the debt securities in “Street Name.” We would do this by requiring that the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring that the debt securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the “depositary.” Any person wishing to own a debt security issued in the form of a global security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether a series of debt securities will be issued only in the form of global securities and, if so, will describe the specific terms of the arrangement with the depositary.
Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities. As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
An investor should be aware that if a series of debt securities is issued only in the form of global securities:
• | the investor cannot have debt securities of that series registered in his or her own name; |
• | the investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities of that series; |
• | the investor will be a “Street Name” holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities of that series and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities of that series, as described under “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders”; |
• | the investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities of that series to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical certificates; and |
• | the depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in the global security. |
Neither we nor the applicable trustee have or will have any responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. Also, neither we nor the applicable trustee do or will supervise the depositary in any way.
Special Situations When the Global Security Will be Terminated. In limited special situations, a global security will terminate, and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in “Street Name” will be up to the
14
investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in debt securities transferred to their own name so that they will be direct holders. The rights of “Street Name” investors and direct holders in debt securities have been previously described in subsections entitled “—‘Street Name’ and Other Indirect Holders” and “—Direct Holders.”
The special situations for termination of a global security are:
• | when the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary, and we do not appoint a successor depositary; and |
• | at any time if we decide to terminate a global security. |
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, only the depositary is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer
Unless we inform you otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in registered form, without interest coupons, and only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We may, however, require the payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for that registration.
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, in the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we designate. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.
We will appoint the trustee under the applicable indenture as security registrar for the debt securities issued under that indenture. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents initially designated by us, we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We will be required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment with respect to debt securities we may offer under any of the indentures. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.
In the case of any redemption of debt securities offered under this prospectus, neither the security registrar nor the transfer agent will be required to register the transfer or exchange of any debt security during a period beginning 15 days prior to the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:
• | payments on a series of debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars by check mailed to the holder’s registered address or, with respect to global securities, by wire transfer; |
• | we will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment; and |
• | the trustee under the applicable indenture will be designated as our paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. |
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities under the applicable indenture that remain unclaimed for two years after the date when the payment was due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment unless an applicable abandoned property law designates otherwise. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.
15
Common Stock
We may issue, either separately or together with other securities, including as a part of units, shares of our common stock. Shares of common stock issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (our “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), we are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share. As of October 16, 2026, we had 167,802,384 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable for, or exercisable into, common stock, or the settlement of which may result in the issuance of common stock, will describe the relevant terms, including the number of shares offered, any initial offering price and market price and dividend information, as well as, if applicable, information on other related securities.
The following summary is not complete and is not intended to give full effect to provisions of statutory or common law. You should refer to the applicable provisions of the following:
• | the Delaware General Corporation Law, as it may be amended from time to time; |
• | our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be amended or restated from time to time; and |
• | our Amended and Restated By-Laws (our “By-Laws”), as they may be amended or restated from time to time. |
Dividends. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for their payment subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock.
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. There are no cumulative voting rights associated with our common stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to share equally in any of our assets available for distribution after the payment in full of all debts and liabilities and after the holders of all series of our outstanding preferred stock have received their liquidation preferences in full.
Miscellaneous. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive or redemption rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. Shares of common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock. Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, LLC is the transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.
Stock Exchange Listing. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “WAB.”
Preferred Stock
We may elect to issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any offering of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus. We may issue shares of preferred stock separately or as a part of units, and any such shares issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Shares of our preferred stock may have dividend, redemption, voting and liquidation rights taking priority over our common stock, and shares of our preferred stock may be convertible into our common stock.
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation expressly authorizes our Board of Directors, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series from time to time. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series of preferred stock and to fix the designation, relative rights, preferences, qualifications and limitations of the shares of each series of preferred stock. The authority of our Board of Directors with respect to each series includes, without limitation, determination of the following:
• | the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series; |
• | the dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, the declaration and payment dates and the payment preference, if any, to dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock; |
16
• | whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms thereof; |
• | whether that series shall have conversion or exchange privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions thereof; |
• | whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions thereof; |
• | whether that series shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amounts thereof; |
• | the right of the shares of that series to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon (i) the creation of indebtedness of Wabtec or any subsidiary; (ii) the issue of any additional stock (including additional shares of such series or of any other series); and (iii) the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Wabtec or any subsidiary of, any outstanding stock of Wabtec; |
• | the right of the shares of that series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Wabtec and whether such rights shall be in preference to, or in another relation to, the comparable rights of any other class or classes or series of stock; and |
• | any other relative, participating, option or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of that series. |
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series. As of the date of this prospectus, 10,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated as Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock have been issued.
Special Charter and By-Laws Provisions
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our By-Laws contain various provisions that may discourage or delay attempts to gain control of Wabtec. For example:
• | our Board of Directors is classified into three classes, with one class elected each year to serve a three-year term; |
• | our By-Laws require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to nominate (a) William E. Kassling (so long as Mr. Kassling is able and willing to serve and members of his immediate family and their affiliates collectively and beneficially own at least 50% of the shares of common stock of Wabtec beneficially owned by Mr. Kassling immediately after the closing of the stock purchase transaction governed by the stock purchase agreement dated as of March 5, 1997 and described in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Wabtec on April 11, 1997) and (b) Emilio A. Fernandez (so long as Mr. Fernandez is able and willing to serve and Mr. Fernandez and his immediate family and their affiliates collectively and beneficially own at least 50% of the shares of common stock of Wabtec delivered by the Company pursuant to that certain asset purchase agreement dated as of January 23, 1995); |
• | except as otherwise provided by applicable law, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation or our By-Laws, our By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting or by action of the Board of Directors; |
• | special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairman of our Board, the Chief Executive Officer, a majority of our Board of Directors or stockholders owning not less than 25% of our capital stock that is issued, outstanding and entitled to vote and may not be called by any other person or persons or in any other manner; and |
• | stockholders must provide advance notice if they wish to submit a proposal or nominate candidates for director at our annual meeting of stockholders. |
Notwithstanding the provisions of our By-Laws described in the second bullet point above, each of Mr. Kassling and Mr. Fernandez has retired from our Board of Directors.
17
Unless indicated otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the issuance of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Jones Day. Certain matters pertaining to the laws of the State of Nevada will be passed upon for us by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
The consolidated financial statements of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation appearing in Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the effectiveness of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
19
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation, are:
SEC registration fee | $ * | ||
Legal fees and expenses | ** | ||
Accounting fees and expenses | ** | ||
Trustee’s fees and expenses | ** | ||
Printing and engraving fees | ** | ||
Miscellaneous | ** | ||
Total | $* | ||
* | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), we are deferring payment of all of the registration fee required in connection with this Registration Statement. |
** | The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this Registration Statement. Information regarding estimated expenses of issuance and distribution of each identified class of securities being registered will be provided at the time information as to such class is included in a prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
1. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
Section 145 also provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
To the extent that a former or present director or officer of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
II-1
Any such indemnification (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that the indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth above. Such determination shall be made:
(1) | by a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum; or |
(2) | by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; or |
(3) | if there are no such directors, or, if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or |
(4) | by the stockholders. |
Section 145 permits a Delaware business corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability.
2. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL regarding the unlawful payment of dividends or approval of unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision becomes effective (in the case of Wabtec, October 19, 1989). As noted in paragraph 3 below, Wabtec’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), includes a provision contemplated by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.
3. Restated Certificate of Incorporation Provision on Liability of Directors. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that no Wabtec director shall be personally liable to Wabtec or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Wabtec or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transactions from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.
4. Indemnification By-Law. Section 1 of Article VIII of Wabtec’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) provides that Wabtec shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of Wabtec) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of Wabtec, or is or was a director or officer of the Wabtec enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), payments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Wabtec, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by payment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Wabtec, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 2 of Article VIII of the By-Laws provides that Wabtec shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Wabtec to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of Wabtec, or is or was a director or officer of Wabtec serving at the request of Wabtec as a director or officer of another corporation,
II-2
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Wabtec; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to Wabtec unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 3 of Article VIII of the By-Laws provides that any indemnification under Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by Wabtec only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of Article VIII, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (i) by a majority of the vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a director or officer of Wabtec has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
Section 8 of Article VIII of the By-Laws provides that Wabtec may purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of Wabtec, or is or was a director or officer of Wabtec serving at the request of Wabtec as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not Wabtec would have the right or obligation to indemnify him against such liability.
5. Director and Officer Liability Insurance. Wabtec maintains director and officer liability insurance covering its directors and officers with respect to certain liabilities which they may incur in connection with their serving as such.
6. Similar Limitation of Liability. The law of the state of incorporation and/or the provisions of the certificates of incorporation, the bylaws, the limited liability company agreements or the general partnership agreements, as applicable, of all of the subsidiaries listed in the “Table of Additional Registrants” included in this Registration Statement, provide for the limitation of liability and indemnification of officers, directors, managers and persons performing similar functions, as applicable, of the subsidiaries similar to those described above.
II-3
Item 16. | Exhibits. |
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
Exhibit Number | Description | ||
* 1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | ||
* 1.2 | Form of Distribution Agreement. | ||
Indenture, dated August 8, 2013, by and between Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation on August 8, 2013). | |||
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 3, 2016, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 3, 2016). | |||
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 3, 2016, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 3, 2016). | |||
Form of 3.450% Senior Note due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.3). | |||
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2017, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2017). | |||
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2017, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 4, 2017). | |||
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 21, 2017, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation on July 19, 2017). | |||
Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 8, 2018, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2018). | |||
Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2018, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2018). | |||
II-4
Exhibit Number | Description | ||
Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2018, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 14, 2018). | |||
Form of 4.70% Senior Note due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.10). | |||
Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 6, 2019, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 1, 2019). | |||
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 11, 2024, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Computershare Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for the notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2024). | |||
Form of 5.611% Senior Note due 2034 (included in Exhibit 4.13). | |||
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 14, 2025, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Computershare Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 13, 2026). | |||
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 29, 2025, by and among Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Computershare Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee for the notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 13, 2026). | |||
Form of 4.900% Senior Note due 2030 (including the Notation of Guarantee) (included in Exhibit 4.16). | |||
Form of 5.500% Senior Note due 2035 (including the Notation of Guarantee) (included in Exhibit 4.16). | |||
Base Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2021, among Wabtec Transportation Netherlands B.V., as issuer, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2021). | |||
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2021, among Wabtec Transportation Netherlands B.V., as issuer, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2021). | |||
Form of 1.250% Notes due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.20). | |||
Form of Indenture for Senior Debt. | |||
II-5
Exhibit Number | Description | ||
Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt. | |||
* 4.24 | Form of Senior Debt Security. | ||
* 4.25 | Form of Subordinated Debt Security. | ||
* 4.26 | Form of Warrant Agreement. | ||
* 4.27 | Form of Warrant Certificate. | ||
* 4.28 | Form of Deposit Agreement. | ||
* 4.29 | Form of Depositary Receipt. | ||
* 4.30 | Form of Purchase Contract Agreement. | ||
* 4.31 | Form of Purchase Contract Security. | ||
* 4.32 | Form of Purchase Unit Agreement. | ||
* 4.33 | Form of Purchase Unit Certificate. | ||
# 4.34 | Form of Certificate of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation on May 19, 1995). | ||
* 4.35 | Form of Certificate of Preferred Stock. | ||
* 4.36 | Form of Guarantee. | ||
Opinion of Jones Day (as to securities that may be offered under this Registration Statement by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation and certain subsidiary guarantors). | |||
Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (as to securities that may be offered under this Registration Statement by Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc.). | |||
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. | |||
Consent of Jones Day (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). | |||
Consent of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (included as part of Exhibit 5.2). | |||
Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages to this Registration Statement). | |||
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association under the Indenture, dated as of August 8, 2013. | |||
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association under the Senior Debt Indenture. | |||
II-6
Exhibit Number | Description | ||
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association under the Subordinated Debt Indenture. | |||
Filing Fee Table. | |||
* | To be filed either by amendment to this Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference. |
+ | Filed herewith. |
# | Previously filed. |
Item 17. | Undertakings. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of the securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
(A) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
(B) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act 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 |
II-7
date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: |
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) | 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. |
(7) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
II-8
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION | ||||||
By: | /s/ John A. Olin | |||||
Name: | John A. Olin | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Rafael Santana | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Rafael Santana | ||||||
/s/ John A. Olin | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Olin | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ Linda A. Harty | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Linda A. Harty | ||||||
/s/ Beverley A. Babcock | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Beverley A. Babcock | ||||||
/s/ Lee Banks | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Lee Banks | ||||||
/s/ Byron S. Foster | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Byron S. Foster | ||||||
II-9
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Brian P. Hehir | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Brian P. Hehir | ||||||
/s/ Juan Perez | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Juan Perez | ||||||
/s/ Ann R. Klee | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Ann R. Klee | ||||||
II-10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
GE TRANSPORTATION, A WABTEC COMPANY | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned director and officer of GE Transportation, a Wabtec Company, a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ Kathleen Kennedy | President and Vice President Finance (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Kathleen Kennedy | ||||||
/s/ John A. Olin | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Olin | ||||||
II-11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
RFPC HOLDING CORP. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and Director | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of RFPC Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Michael Fetsko | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Michael Fetsko | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Vice President, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Kelly L. Pietracatello | ||||||
II-12
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ James Winget | |||||
Name: | James Winget | |||||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said limited liability company to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Eric Gebhardt | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Eric Gebhardt | ||||||
/s/ James Winget | Vice President and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
James Winget | ||||||
GE Transportation, a Wabtec Company | Member | October 21, 2026 | |||||||
By: | /s/ John A. Mastalerz | ||||||||
John A. Mastalerz | |||||||||
Vice President and Treasurer | |||||||||
Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc. | Member | October 21, 2026 | |||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | ||||||||
Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||||||
Assistant Secretary | |||||||||
II-13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS SERVICES OPERATIONS INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc., a Nevada corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Sameer Gaur | President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Sameer Gaur | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Vice President, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
II-14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WABTEC COMPONENTS LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Wabtec Components LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said limited liability company to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Michael Fetsko | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Michael Fetsko | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Vice President, Finance and Director (Principal Financial Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ Kathleen Kennedy | Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Kathleen Kennedy | ||||||
/s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Kelly L. Pietracatello | ||||||
II-15
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WABTEC HOLDING, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Secretary and Assistant Treasurer | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Wabtec Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said limited liability company to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Michael Fetsko | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Michael Fetsko | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Vice President, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ David L. DeNinno | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
David L. DeNinno | ||||||
II-16
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WABTEC RAILWAY ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary and Director | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Wabtec Railway Electronics Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said limited liability company to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Nalin Jain | President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Nalin Jain | ||||||
/s/ Nikhar Juneja | Vice President, Finance (Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Nikhar Juneja | ||||||
/s/ Cody Corbelli | Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Cody Corbelli | ||||||
/s/ Scott Horning | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Scott Horning | ||||||
/s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | Assistant Secretary and Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Kelly L. Pietracatello | ||||||
II-17
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WABTEC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned officers and sole member of Wabtec Transportation Systems, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as officers and sole member and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said limited liability company to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Sameer Gaur | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Sameer Gaur | ||||||
/s/ Tiago Fernandes | Vice President Finance (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Tiago Fernandes | ||||||
GE Transportation, a Wabtec Company | |||||||||
By: | /s/ John A. Mastalerz | Sole Member | October 21, 2026 | ||||||
John A. Mastalerz Vice President and Treasurer | |||||||||
II-18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on October 21, 2026.
WABTEC US RAIL, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Name: | Kelly L. Pietracatello | |||||
Title: | Secretary | |||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Wabtec US Rail, Inc., a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint John A. Olin, David L. DeNinno and Kelly L. Pietracatello, or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our respective capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, whether pursuant to Rule 462(b) or otherwise) hereto, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them or any substitute, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be executed in any number of counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||
/s/ Pascal Schweitzer | President (Principal Executive Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Pascal Schweitzer | ||||||
/s/ John A. Mastalerz | Treasurer (Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer) | October 21, 2026 | ||||
John A. Mastalerz | ||||||
/s/ David L. DeNinno | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
David L. DeNinno | ||||||
/s/ Nicole Theophilus | Director | October 21, 2026 | ||||
Nicole Theophilus | ||||||
II-19
Exhibit 4.22
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
FORM OF INDENTURE
Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
as Trustee
Senior Debt Securities
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reconciliation and tie showing the location in the Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ], of the provisions inserted pursuant to Sections 310 to 318(a), inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
| SECTION 310 | (a)(2) | 7.9 |
| (a)(1) | 7.9 | |
| (b) | 7.7, 7.9 | |
| SECTION 311 | (a) | 7.10 |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| SECTION 312 | (a) | 2.6 |
| (b) | 10.2 | |
| (c) | 10.2 | |
| SECTION 313 | (a) | 7.11 |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| (c) | 7.11 | |
| (d) | 7.11 | |
| SECTION 314 | (a) | 4.2, 4.5 |
| (c)(1) | 10.3 | |
| (c)(2) | 10.3 | |
| (e) | 10.4 | |
| SECTION 316 | (a) | 1.1 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |
| (b) | 6.8 | |
| SECTION 317 | (a)(1) | 6.3 |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| SECTION 318 | (a) | 1.4 |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
2
Table of Contents
Page
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
| Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
| Section 1.2 | Other Definitions | 5 |
| Section 1.3 | Rules of Construction | 5 |
| Section 1.4 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 5 |
| ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES | 5 | |
| Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series | 5 |
| Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 6 |
| Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication | 8 |
| Section 2.4 | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent | 10 |
| Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 10 |
| Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists | 11 |
| Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange | 11 |
| Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 11 |
| Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities | 13 |
| Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities | 13 |
| Section 2.12 | Cancellation | 13 |
| Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest | 13 |
| Section 2.14 | Global Securities | 13 |
| Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers | 15 |
| ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 15 | |
| Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations | 15 |
| Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 16 |
| Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption | 16 |
| Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 17 |
| Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 17 |
| Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 18 |
| Section 3.7 | Sinking Fund | 18 |
| Section 3.8 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 18 |
| Section 3.9 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 18 |
| ARTICLE IV COVENANTS | 19 | |
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 19 |
| Section 4.2 | Compliance Certificate | 19 |
| Section 4.3 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 19 |
| Section 4.4 | Corporate Existence | 20 |
| Section 4.5 | Reports | 20 |
| ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS | 20 | |
| Section 5.1 | Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets | 20 |
-i-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 21 | |
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 21 |
| Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 22 |
| Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 23 |
| Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 23 |
| Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 24 |
| Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected | 24 |
| Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits | 25 |
| Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 25 |
| Section 6.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 25 |
| Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 26 |
| Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 26 |
| Section 6.12 | Control by Holders | 26 |
| Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults | 26 |
| Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs | 27 |
| ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE | 27 | |
| Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee | 27 |
| Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee | 28 |
| Section 7.3 | May Hold Securities | 30 |
| Section 7.4 | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 30 |
| Section 7.5 | Notice of Defaults | 30 |
| Section 7.6 | Compensation and Indemnity | 30 |
| Section 7.7 | Replacement of Trustee | 31 |
| Section 7.8 | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc | 33 |
| Section 7.9 | Eligibility; Disqualification | 33 |
| Section 7.10 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 33 |
| Section 7.11 | Reports by Trustee | 34 |
| ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 34 | |
| Section 8.1 | Termination of Company’s Obligations | 34 |
| Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Money | 37 |
| Section 8.3 | Repayment to Company | 38 |
| Section 8.4 | Reinstatement | 38 |
| ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 38 | |
| Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders | 38 |
| Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders | 39 |
| Section 9.3 | Limitations | 40 |
| Section 9.4 | Form of Amendments | 41 |
| Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 41 |
| Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of the Securities | 41 |
| Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected | 41 |
-ii-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS | 42 | |
| Section 10.1 | Notices | 42 |
| Section 10.2 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 43 |
| Section 10.3 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 43 |
| Section 10.4 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 43 |
| Section 10.5 | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 44 |
| Section 10.6 | Legal Holidays | 44 |
| Section 10.7 | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others | 44 |
| Section 10.8 | Counterparts | 44 |
| Section 10.9 | Governing Laws | 45 |
| Section 10.10 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 45 |
| Section 10.11 | Successors | 45 |
| Section 10.12 | Severability | 45 |
| Section 10.13 | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc | 45 |
| Section 10.14 | Judgment Currency | 45 |
| Section 10.15 | English Language | 46 |
| Section 10.16 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 46 |
| Section 10.17 | Waiver of Immunity | 46 |
| Section 10.18 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 47 |
| Section 10.19 | USA Patriot Act | 47 |
-iii-
Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Securities (as defined below) issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent or any other agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certification and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions or the Corporate Trust Office are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such Person.
“Certificated Securities” means definitive Securities in registered non-global certificated form.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Order” or “Company Request” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by one of the Company’s Officers.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which, as of the date hereof is the address set forth in Section 10.1.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” or “$” means the currency of the United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a 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 with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar.
2
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of each Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Security, the date of original issuance of such Security.
“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Controller, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary, or any Assistant Controller of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer, and (2) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel that is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be a direct or indirect employee of or counsel to the Company.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of the Securities of a Series from time to time, during which any or all of the specific terms of the Securities, including the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the terms of the relevant supplemental indenture.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted Security” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security of such Series, unless or until it has been (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
3
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of Securities of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any specified Person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such Person or other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such Person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the SEC under or in furtherance of the purpose of such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“Unrestricted Securities” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
4
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
TERM |
DEFINED IN SECTION |
|
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “covenant defeasance” | 8.1(b) | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Events of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.14 | |
| “legal defeasance” | 8.1(c) | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.6 | |
| “New York Banking Day” | 10.14 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Related Proceeding” | 10.16 | |
| “Required Currency” | 10.14 | |
| “Transfer Agent” | 2.4 |
Section 1.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means including without limitation;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
Section 1.4 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of §§ 310 through 317, inclusive, of the TIA through the operation of § 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in, or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such Series of Securities.
5
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.28) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture:
2.2.1 the title of the Series of Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for the Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.3 the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.4 the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months;
2.2.5 the date or dates from which interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates;
2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company with respect to the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.7 the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;
2.2.8 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.9 the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase, if other than as set forth herein, the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, the Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
6
2.2.10 the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights;
2.2.11 if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.12 the forms of the Securities of the Series including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such Series;
2.2.13 any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to the Securities of the Series, if different from those set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.14 if the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the type of Global Securities to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Indenture, upon which such Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities in definitive registered form; the Depositary for such Global Securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.2;
2.2.15 any provisions granting special rights to Holders when a specified event occurs;
2.2.16 if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of any Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
2.2.17 any special tax implications of the Securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;
2.2.18 whether and upon what terms the Securities of the Series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.19 with regard to the Securities of any Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
2.2.20 whether the Securities of any Series will be issued as Unrestricted Securities or Restricted Securities, and, if issued as Restricted Securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act in reliance on which they will be sold;
2.2.21 any guarantees on the Securities of the Series;
2.2.22 the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable;
7
2.2.23 if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of the Securities of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the portion of the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2 or upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined;
2.2.24 the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.25 any additional restrictive covenants or Events of Default that will apply to the Securities of the Series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article IV or the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 that will apply to the Securities of the Series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in Article IV or Section 6.1 or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the Series;
2.2.26 any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.27 whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein; and
2.2.28 any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the Securities of the Series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the Securities of that Series.
The Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
An Officer of the Company shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
8
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate the Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by the relevant Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2 and the preceding paragraph, in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with a Company Order or such other procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or the written order of the Company delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.
Prior to the issuance of the Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. With respect to Securities of a Series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee conclusively may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the written order of the Company, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3 at or prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series unless and until such written order, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate or other documents have been superseded or revoked, and written notice thereof is provided to the Trustee, or expire by their terms.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities of any Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate the Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate the Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
9
Section 2.4 Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent.
The Company will maintain one or more paying agents (each, a “Paying Agent”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Paying Agent will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Paying Agent” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Paying Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Paying Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more paying agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any Series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as paying agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as paying agent.
The Company will maintain one or more registrars (each, a “Registrar”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Registrar will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Registrar” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Registrar hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Registrar” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Registrar with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more registrars, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as registrar, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as registrar.
The Company will also maintain a transfer agent (each, a “Transfer Agent”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Transfer Agent will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Transfer Agent” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Transfer Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Transfer Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more transfer agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as transfer agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as transfer agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent for its Securities without prior notice to the Holders.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent appointed by it other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
10
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.
If the Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, then the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange; provided that the requirements for such transactions set forth in this Indenture are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate the Securities at the Registrar’s request upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Order from the Company. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon an exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange the Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange the Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of written notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
11
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a replacement Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section 2.8, 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 replacement Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section 2.9 as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. Subject to Section 2.10, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
12
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of the Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, the Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only the Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Agents shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver evidence of such destruction to the Company upon its written request. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace the Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Indenture for the Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for the Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
13
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.1, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any tax or securities laws with respect to any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
2.14.2 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”
2.14.3 Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
14
2.14.4 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof, which in the case of the Depositary will be made in accordance with its applicable procedures.
2.14.5 Holders. The Company, the Trustee and each Agent shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar as the Holder for all purposes including for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions permitted or required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
2.14.6 None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders with respect to the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in Section 3.9 hereof or, as applicable, in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such Series. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed at least 45 days before a redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee). The Trustee shall have no liability with respect to or obligation to calculate the redemption price of any Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
15
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or a supplemental indenture, if less than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities of a Series to be redeemed by lot, in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements. The Trustee will not be liable for selections made by it as contemplated in this Section 3.2.
Notices of purchase or redemption will be given to each Holder pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 10.1.
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will deliver a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed in accordance with Section 10.1, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and corresponding CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, as applicable, and will state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;
(c) if any Global Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Global Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Global Security, the principal amount thereof will be decreased by the portion thereof redeemed pursuant thereto;
(d) if any Certificated Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed, and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Certificated Security in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Certificated Security;
16
(e) the name and address of the Paying Agent(s) to which the Securities are to be surrendered for redemption;
(f) that the Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the relevant Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on the Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(h) the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(i) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, the Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the redemption date.
On or after any purchase or redemption date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase or redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof tendered for purchase or called for redemption.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
17
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered and concurrently cancel the surrendered Certificated Security.
Section 3.7 Sinking Fund.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the provisions of Sections 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.8. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of the Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 3.8 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (a) may deliver outstanding Securities of a Series other than any Securities previously called for redemption and (b) may apply as a credit the Securities of a Series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such Series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.9 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of the Series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.2), the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.8 and the basis for such credit. Together with such Officers’ Certificate, the Company will deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3.
18
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium 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 on, the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, at or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, redemption date or repurchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of each such Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2 Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company (which as of the date of this Indenture is December 31, or if the fiscal year with respect to the Company is changed so that it ends on a date other than December 31, such other fiscal year end date as the Company shall notify to the Trustee in writing), an Officers’ Certificate (which need not contain the statements provided for in Section 10.4), signed by at least one of the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of such signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge the Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge). Such Officers’ Certificate need not include a reference to any non-compliance that has been fully cured prior to the date as of which such certificate speaks.
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.3 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
19
Section 4.4 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 4.5 Reports.
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and regulations, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure). The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure).
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person unless either (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any such resulting, surviving or transferee entity expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture to which the Company is a party, and, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, immediately after which, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. An Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel will be delivered to the Trustee, which will serve as conclusive evidence of compliance with this Section 5.1.
20
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
The following are “Events of Default” with respect to the Securities of any Series, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) failure to pay any interest on the Securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such Series;
(b) failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable;
(c) failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(d) failure to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that the Company has included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of another Series of Securities) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of a Series affected by that failure a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
(e) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
21
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; and
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Officers’ Certificate or Board Resolution under which such Series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such 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 similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under one Series of Securities issued under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another Series of Securities under this Indenture.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default for a Series of Securities occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)), the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such Series of Securities may require the Company to pay immediately the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities. If an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Series of Securities will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, 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:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that Series,
(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(iv) 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
22
(b) all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of the Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or 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 shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
23
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid with respect to 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
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote with respect to the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any 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 with respect to which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under this Indenture in all of its capacities;
24
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities with respect to which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of the Securities of any Series may pursue any remedy under this Indenture applicable to the Securities of such Series only if:
(a) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default for the Securities of such Series;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) the Holders furnish to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity; and
(e) during that 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a Holder of Securities to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment with respect to such Securities.
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
25
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would expose the Trustee to personal liability or that it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with such direction.
Section 6.13 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 waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
26
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his, her or its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits, and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal and interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) or to any suit instituted by the Company, the Trustee, or any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series:
(i) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, other than as required under the TIA; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
27
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1; and
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Article VII.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on or investment of any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, security or other paper or document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such instruction, Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the relevant Series of Securities.
28
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable under or in connection with this Indenture for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Trustee has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought.
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Securities shall have offered to the Trustee, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(i) The Trustee may at any time request, and the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the specimen signatures and the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to (i) any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) any act of God, (iii) natural disaster, (iv) war, (v) terrorism, (vi) civil unrest, (vii) accidents, (viii) labor dispute, (ix) disease, (x) epidemic or pandemic, (xi) quarantine, (xii) national emergency, (xiii) loss or malfunction of utility or computer software or hardware, (xiv) communications system failure, (xv) malware or ransomware or (xvi) unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems, or (xvii) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
29
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, each Agent, and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
Section 7.3 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of the Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.9 and 7.10.
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of any offering materials, this Indenture or the Securities; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision hereof; and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in any offering materials or the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing and it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such Series to do so.
Section 7.6 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include court costs and the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company hereby indemnifies the Trustee, including its officers, directors, employees and agents from, and hold it harmless against any damage, cost, claim, loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with its acceptance and administration of the trusts set forth under this Indenture, the performance of its obligations and/or the exercise of its rights hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder, or any other Person) or liability except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense, unless, the Trustee, in its reasonable discretion, determines that any actual or potential conflict of interest may exist, in which case the Trustee may have separate counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.
30
The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
To secure the payment obligations of the Company in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of any Series. Such lien and the obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Securities and/or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses (including court costs and the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
Section 7.7 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.7.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee for any or all Series of the Securities if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9,
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law,
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property, or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
31
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason with respect to the Securities of one or more Series, the Company 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). Within one year after the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such Series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a Series fails to comply with Section 7.9, any Holder of Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all Series, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall give a notice of its succession to Holders in accordance with Section 10.1. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.6.
In case of the appointment 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 in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (a) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers 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, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers 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 (c) 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. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and 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. 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 shall have all the rights, powers 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. On request of the Company, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
32
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this Section 7.7, the obligations of the Company under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.
Section 7.8 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
Subject to Section 7.9, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.9 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
The Trustee for the Securities shall be subject to the provisions of TIA § 310(b) during the period of time required thereby. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA § 310(b). In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in TIA § 310(b) with respect to the Securities of any Series, there shall be excluded Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.
Section 7.10 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, to the extent indicated therein.
33
Section 7.11 Reports by Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, if required by TIA § 313(a), the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to TIA § 313(c), a brief report that complies with TIA § 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit any reports required by TIA § 313(a) at the times specified therein.
(c) A copy of such report, if any, described in Section 7.11(a) and (b) 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 SEC and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.1 Termination of Company’s Obligations.
(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a Series (except that all obligations of the Company under Section 7.6, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company shall execute instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series, when:
(i) either
(A) all outstanding Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and issued (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all outstanding Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and, in the case of clause (1), (2) or (3) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds (immediately available to the Holders in the case of clause (1)) in trust for such purpose (x) cash in an amount, (y) Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof that will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such Series for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; or
34
(C) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge, as contemplated by Section 2.2 to be applicable to the Securities of such Series;
(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it hereunder with respect to the Securities of such Series; and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
(b) (b) Unless this Section 8.1(b) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of a Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate certain of its obligations under this Indenture (“covenant defeasance”) with respect to the Securities of a Series if:
(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as 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 Securities of such Series, (x) cash in an amount, (y) Government Obligations with respect to such Series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof that will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all Securities of such Series on each date that such principal, premium (if any) or interest is due and payable and (at the Stated Maturity thereof or upon redemption as provided in Section 8.1(e)) to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money and/or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to the payment of said principal, premium (if any) and interest with respect to the Securities of such Series as the same shall become due;
35
(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowings);
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee or a binding tax ruling to the effect that the beneficial owners of the relevant Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 8.1(b) and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and
(v) the Company has complied with any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the discharge of the Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1.
In such event, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in this paragraph), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge under this Indenture. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 4.1, 5.1, 7.6 and 7.7, the Events of Default described in Section 6.1(a), (b), (e) and (f), the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the obligations of the Company in Section 7.6 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities, the Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.
36
(c) If the Company has previously complied or is concurrently complying with the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b) (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 that are expressly applicable only to covenant defeasance) with respect to the Securities of a Series, then unless this Section 8.1(c) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may elect to be discharged (“legal defeasance”) from its obligations to make payments with respect to the Securities of such Series, if:
(i) unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee to the effect referred to in Section 8.1(b)(iv) with respect to such legal defeasance, which opinion is based on (A) a binding private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service addressed to the Company, (B) a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or (C) a change in the applicable federal income tax law (including regulations) after the date of this Indenture;
(ii) the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the legal defeasance of Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1(c); and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Request requesting such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series and an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
In such event, the Company will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, the Securities of such Series, the Company’s obligations under Sections 4.1 and 5.1 shall terminate with respect to such Securities, and the entire indebtedness of the Company evidenced by such Securities shall be deemed paid and discharged. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8 shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding.
(d) If and to the extent additional or alternative means of satisfaction, discharge or defeasance of the Securities of a Series are specified to be applicable to such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate any or all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to its Securities of a Series and any or all of its obligations under the Securities of such Series if it fulfills such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be so specified, as contemplated by Section 2.2, to be applicable to the Securities of such Series.
(e) If the Securities of any Series subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 8.1 are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, the terms of the applicable trust arrangement shall provide for such redemption, and the Company shall make such arrangements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Money.
The Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of the Series with respect to which the deposit was made.
37
Section 8.3 Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or Government Obligations (or proceeds therefrom) held by them at any time upon the written request of the Company.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), and/or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
Section 8.4 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations deposited with respect to the Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.2 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a Series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Series of Securities in the following circumstances:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency as evidenced in an Officers’ Certificate;
(b) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture by a successor or transferee upon any permitted merger, consolidation or asset transfer;
38
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities;
(d) to provide any security for or guarantees of its Securities or for the addition of an additional obligor on its Securities;
(e) to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if applicable;
(f) to add covenants that would benefit the Holders of its Securities or to surrender any rights the Company has under this Indenture;
(g) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new Series of Securities;
(i) to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of any Series otherwise in accordance with Article VIII; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of outstanding Securities of such Series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the principal executive officer, the principal financial or accounting officer or the Treasurer of the Company;
(j) to issue additional Securities of any Series, provided that such additional Securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same Series as, the applicable Series of Securities to the extent required under this Indenture; and provided further that if the additional Securities are not fungible with such Series for United States federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have a separate CUSIP number;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of and appointment of 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 trust by more than one trustee;
(l) to add additional Events of Default with respect to any Series of Securities; and
(m) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of any of its outstanding Securities in any material respect.
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.
This Indenture or the Securities of a Series may be amended or supplemented, and waivers may be obtained, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Securities of a Series), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest on, such Securities of a Series, except a payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such Series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Securities of a Series).
39
The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series issued by the Company may waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default with respect to those Securities. Those Holders may not, however, waive any Default or Event of Default in any payment on any Security.
For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Series of Securities made with the consent of Holders of such Series of Securities, shall be made with respect to that Series of Securities only, and not any other Series of Securities.
Section 9.3 Limitations.
Without the consent of each Holder of Securities of a Series affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities of such Series held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the Securities of such Series;
(c) reduce the principal of the Securities of such Series or change the Stated Maturity of the Securities of such Series;
(d) reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the Securities of such Series or change the time at which the Securities of such Series may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities of such Series;
(e) make payments on the Security of such Series payable in currency other than as originally stated in such Security;
(f) impair the Holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Security of such Series; or
(g) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default regarding any payment on the Securities of such Series.
40
Section 9.4 Form of Amendments.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his, her or its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the written notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of the Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company, in exchange for its Securities of that Series, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with such supplemental indenture’s terms. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplemental indentures which affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities, or indemnities under this Indenture, the Securities or otherwise.
41
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Notices.
Any request, direction, instruction, demand, document, notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, shall be in English and in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first-class mail, or delivered by overnight courier as provided below, or if sent by facsimile transmission or email in PDF format, to a facsimile number or email address, as the case may be, provided by the Company or the Trustee, with a copy, mailed by first-class mail, to the Company or the Trustee, as provided below:
if to the Company:
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Attention: General Counsel
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Facsimile No: (412) 825-1501
with a copy to:
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
Telephone No.: (212) 326-3978
Attention: Peter E. Devlin
if to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
333 Thornall Street
Edison, New Jersey 08837
Telephone No.: (732) 321-2516
Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services – Administrator, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Notices shall be effective upon the recipient’s actual receipt thereof. Any party by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to (a) a Securityholder of a Certificated Security shall be mailed by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar and (b) a Securityholder of a Global Security shall be delivered to the Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication to any Securityholder is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
With respect to this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
42
Section 10.2 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of a Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b), as if such section applied hereto, with other Securityholders of such Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it by TIA § 312.
Section 10.3 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 10.4 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
43
Section 10.5 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.6 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.7 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or similar founder, stockholder or member of the Company will have any liability for or any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Securities or for any claim based on, with respect to or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 10.8 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.
44
Section 10.9 Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 10.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.11 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.12 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.14 Judgment Currency.
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due with respect to the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a) of this clause), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable with respect to such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
45
Section 10.15 English Language.
This Indenture has been negotiated and executed in the English language. All certificates, reports, notices and other documents and communications delivered pursuant to this Indenture (including any modifications or supplements hereto), shall be in the English language, or accompanied by a certified English translation thereof. In the case of any document originally issued in a language other than English, the English language version of any such document shall for purposes of this Indenture, and absent manifest error, control the meaning of the matters set out therein.
Section 10.16 Submission to Jurisdiction.
Any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its respective properties, assets or revenues with respect to this Indenture or the Securities (a “Related Proceeding”) may be brought in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York, as the Person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in its sole discretion. The Company hereby consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding and has irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent it may effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.
Section 10.17 Waiver of Immunity.
To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or execution, on the ground of sovereignty or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such immunity with respect to its obligations under this Indenture, and, the Securities.
46
Section 10.18 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 10.19 USA Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with § 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act as such requirements pertain to this Indenture.
47
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
48
Exhibit 4.23
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
FORM OF INDENTURE
Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
as Trustee
Subordinated Debt Securities
WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reconciliation and tie showing the location in the Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ], of the provisions inserted pursuant to Sections 310 to 318(a), inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | ||
| SECTION 310 | (a)(2) | 7.9 | |
| (a)(1) | 7.9 | ||
| (b) | 7.7, 7.9 | ||
| SECTION 311 | (a) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | ||
| SECTION 312 | (a) | 2.6 | |
| (b) | 10.2 | ||
| (c) | 10.2 | ||
| SECTION 313 | (a) | 7.11 | |
| (b) | 7.11 | ||
| (c) | 7.11 | ||
| (d) | 7.11 | ||
| SECTION 314 | (a) | 4.2, 4.5 | |
| (c)(1) | 10.3 | ||
| (c)(2) | 10.3 | ||
| (e) | 10.4 | ||
| SECTION 316 | (a) | 1.1 | |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | ||
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | ||
| (b) | 6.8 | ||
| SECTION 317 | (a)(1) | 6.3 | |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | ||
| (b) | 2.5 | ||
| SECTION 318 | (a) | 1.4 | |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
Table of Contents
Page
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
| Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
| Section 1.2 | Other Definitions | 5 | |
| Section 1.3 | Rules of Construction | 6 | |
| Section 1.4 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 6 | |
| ARTICLE II | THE SECURITIES | 6 | |
| Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series | 6 | |
| Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 6 | |
| Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication | 9 | |
| Section 2.4 | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent | 10 | |
| Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 11 | |
| Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists | 11 | |
| Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange | 12 | |
| Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 12 | |
| Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities | 13 | |
| Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities | 13 | |
| Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities | 13 | |
| Section 2.12 | Cancellation | 14 | |
| Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest | 14 | |
| Section 2.14 | Global Securities | 14 | |
| Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers | 16 | |
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 16 | |
| Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations | 16 | |
| Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 16 | |
| Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption | 17 | |
| Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 18 | |
| Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 18 | |
| Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 18 | |
| Section 3.7 | Sinking Fund | 18 | |
| Section 3.8 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 19 | |
| Section 3.9 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 19 | |
| ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS | 19 | |
| Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 19 | |
| Section 4.2 | Compliance Certificate | 20 | |
| Section 4.3 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 20 | |
| Section 4.4 | Corporate Existence | 20 | |
| Section 4.5 | Reports | 20 | |
-i-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE V | SUCCESSORS | 21 |
|
| Section 5.1 | Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets | 21 | |
| ARTICLE VI | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 21 | |
| Section 6.1 | Events of Default | 21 | |
| Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 22 | |
| Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 23 | |
| Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 24 | |
| Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 25 | |
| Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected | 25 | |
| Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits | 25 | |
| Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 26 | |
| Section 6.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 26 | |
| Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 26 | |
| Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 27 | |
| Section 6.12 | Control by Holders | 27 | |
| Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults | 27 | |
| Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs | 27 | |
| ARTICLE VII | TRUSTEE | 28 | |
| Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee | 28 | |
| Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee | 29 | |
| Section 7.3 | May Hold Securities | 30 | |
| Section 7.4 | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 31 | |
| Section 7.5 | Notice of Defaults | 31 | |
| Section 7.6 | Compensation and Indemnity | 31 | |
| Section 7.7 | Replacement of Trustee | 32 | |
| Section 7.8 | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. | 33 | |
| Section 7.9 | Eligibility; Disqualification | 34 | |
| Section 7.10 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 34 | |
| Section 7.11 | Reports by Trustee | 34 | |
| ARTICLE VIII | DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 35 | |
| Section 8.1 | Termination of Company’s Obligations | 35 | |
| Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Money | 38 | |
| Section 8.3 | Repayment to Company | 38 | |
| Section 8.4 | Reinstatement | 39 | |
| ARTICLE IX | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 39 | |
| Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders | 39 | |
| Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders | 40 | |
| Section 9.3 | Limitations | 41 | |
| Section 9.4 | Form of Amendments | 41 | |
| Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 41 | |
| Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of the Securities | 42 | |
| Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected | 42 |
|
-ii-
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
| ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS | 42 | |
| Section 10.1 | Notices | 42 | |
| Section 10.2 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 44 | |
| Section 10.3 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 44 | |
| Section 10.4 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 44 | |
| Section 10.5 | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 44 | |
| Section 10.6 | Legal Holidays | 44 | |
| Section 10.7 | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others | 45 | |
| Section 10.8 | Counterparts | 45 | |
| Section 10.9 | Governing Laws | 45 | |
| Section 10.10 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 46 | |
| Section 10.11 | Successors | 46 | |
| Section 10.12 | Severability | 46 | |
| Section 10.13 | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. | 46 | |
| Section 10.14 | Judgment Currency | 46 | |
| Section 10.15 | English Language | 47 | |
| Section 10.16 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 47 | |
| Section 10.17 | Waiver of Immunity | 47 | |
| Section 10.18 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 47 | |
| Section 10.19 | USA Patriot Act | 47 | |
| ARTICLE XI | SUBORDINATION | 48 | |
| Section 11.1 | Subordination Terms | 48 | |
| Section 11.2 | Notice to Trustee | 48 | |
| Section 11.3 | Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent | 49 | |
| Section 11.4 | Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness | 49 | |
| Section 11.5 | Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights | 49 | |
-iii-
Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Securities (as defined below) issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent or any other agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certification and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions or the Corporate Trust Office are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such Person.
“Certificated Securities” means definitive Securities in registered non-global certificated form.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Order” or “Company Request” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by one of the Company’s Officers.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which, as of the date hereof is the address set forth in Section 10.1.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” or “$” means the currency of the United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a 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 with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar.
2
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of each Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Security, the date of original issuance of such Security.
“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Controller, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary, or any Assistant Controller of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer, and (2) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel that is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be a direct or indirect employee of or counsel to the Company.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of the Securities of a Series from time to time, during which any or all of the specific terms of the Securities, including the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the terms of the relevant supplemental indenture.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted Security” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security of such Series, unless or until it has been (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
3
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Senior Indebtedness” means, without duplication, the principal, premium (if any) and unpaid interest on all present and future (i) indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money, (ii) obligations of the Company evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of the Company under (a) interest rate swaps, caps, collars, options and similar arrangements, (b) any foreign exchange contract, currency swap contract, futures contract, currency option contract, or other foreign currency hedge, and (c) credit swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar arrangements, (iv) indebtedness incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company in connection with the acquisition by it or a Subsidiary of any business, properties or assets (except purchase money indebtedness classified as accounts payable under generally accepted accounting principles), (v) all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of leases of the Company required, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of the Company and all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) under any lease or related document (including a purchase agreement) in connection with the lease of real property which provides that the Company is contractually obligated to purchase or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and thereby guarantee a minimum residual value of the leased property to the lessor and the obligations of the Company under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase such leased property, (vi) reimbursement obligations of the Company in respect of letters of credit relating to indebtedness or other obligations of the Company that qualify as indebtedness or obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above, and (vii) obligations of the Company under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above, in each case unless the instrument creating or evidencing the indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such indebtedness or obligation is not senior in right of payment to the Securities or expressly provides that such indebtedness is subordinate to other indebtedness and obligations of the Company.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of Securities of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any specified Person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such Person or other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such Person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
4
“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the SEC under or in furtherance of the purpose of such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“Unrestricted Securities” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
TERM |
DEFINED IN SECTION |
|
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “covenant defeasance” | 8.1(b) | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Events of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.14 | |
| “legal defeasance” | 8.1(c) | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.6 | |
| “New York Banking Day” | 10.14 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Related Proceeding” | 10.16 | |
| “Required Currency” | 10.14 | |
| “Transfer Agent” | 2.4 |
5
Section 1.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive and “including” means including without limitation;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
Section 1.4 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of §§ 310 through 317, inclusive, of the TIA through the operation of § 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in, or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such Series of Securities.
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.29) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture:
2.2.1 the title of the Series of Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for the Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
6
2.2.3 the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.4 the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months;
2.2.5 the date or dates from which interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates;
2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company with respect to the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.7 the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;
2.2.8 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.9 the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase, if other than as set forth herein, the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, the Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.10 the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights;
2.2.11 if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.12 the forms of the Securities of the Series including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such Series;
2.2.13 any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to the Securities of the Series, if different from those set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.14 if the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the type of Global Securities to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Indenture, upon which such Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities in definitive registered form; the Depositary for such Global Securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.2;
7
2.2.15 any provisions granting special rights to Holders when a specified event occurs;
2.2.16 if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of any Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
2.2.17 any special tax implications of the Securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;
2.2.18 whether and upon what terms the Securities of the Series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.19 with regard to the Securities of any Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
2.2.20 whether the Securities of any Series will be issued as Unrestricted Securities or Restricted Securities, and, if issued as Restricted Securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act in reliance on which they will be sold;
2.2.21 any guarantees on the Securities of the Series;
2.2.22 the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable;
2.2.23 if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of the Securities of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the portion of the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2 or upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined;
2.2.24 the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.25 any additional restrictive covenants or Events of Default that will apply to the Securities of the Series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article IV or the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 that will apply to the Securities of the Series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in Article IV or Section 6.1 or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the Series;
8
2.2.26 any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.27 whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;
2.2.28 the subordination terms of the Securities of the Series; and
2.2.29 any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the Securities of the Series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the Securities of that Series.
The Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
An Officer of the Company shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate the Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by the relevant Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2 and the preceding paragraph, in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with a Company Order or such other procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or the written order of the Company delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series.
9
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.
Prior to the issuance of the Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. With respect to Securities of a Series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee conclusively may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the written order of the Company, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3 at or prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series unless and until such written order, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate or other documents have been superseded or revoked, and written notice thereof is provided to the Trustee, or expire by their terms.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities of any Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate the Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate the Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4 Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent.
The Company will maintain one or more paying agents (each, a “Paying Agent”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Paying Agent will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Paying Agent” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Paying Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Paying Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more paying agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any Series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as paying agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as paying agent.
The Company will maintain one or more registrars (each, a “Registrar”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Registrar will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Registrar” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Registrar hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Registrar” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Registrar with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more registrars, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as registrar, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as registrar.
10
The Company will also maintain a transfer agent (each, a “Transfer Agent”) for the Securities at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency as the Company may designate from time to time. The initial Transfer Agent will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and thereafter “Transfer Agent” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Transfer Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Transfer Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more transfer agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as transfer agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon written notice to the Trustee, may act as transfer agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent for its Securities without prior notice to the Holders.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent appointed by it other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
11
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.
If the Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, then the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange; provided that the requirements for such transactions set forth in this Indenture are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate the Securities at the Registrar’s request upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Order from the Company. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon an exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange the Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange the Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of written notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a replacement Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section 2.8, 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 replacement Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
12
The provisions of this Section 2.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section 2.9 as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. Subject to Section 2.10, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of the Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, the Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only the Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
13
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Agents shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver evidence of such destruction to the Company upon its written request. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace the Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Indenture for the Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for the Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.1, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
14
None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any tax or securities laws with respect to any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
2.14.2 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”
2.14.3 Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
2.14.4 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof, which in the case of the Depositary will be made in accordance with its applicable procedures.
2.14.5 Holders. The Company, the Trustee and each Agent shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar as the Holder for all purposes including for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions permitted or required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
2.14.6 None of the Trustee and the Agents shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders with respect to the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
15
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in Section 3.9 hereof or, as applicable, in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such Series. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed at least 45 days before a redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee). The Trustee shall have no liability with respect to or obligation to calculate the redemption price of any Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or a supplemental indenture, if less than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities of a Series to be redeemed by lot, in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements. The Trustee will not be liable for selections made by it as contemplated in this Section 3.2.
16
Notices of purchase or redemption will be given to each Holder pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 10.1.
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will deliver a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed in accordance with Section 10.1, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and corresponding CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, as applicable, and will state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;
(c) if any Global Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Global Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Global Security, the principal amount thereof will be decreased by the portion thereof redeemed pursuant thereto;
(d) if any Certificated Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed, and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Certificated Security in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Certificated Security;
(e) the name and address of the Paying Agent(s) to which the Securities are to be surrendered for redemption;
(f) that the Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the relevant Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on the Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(h) the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and
17
(i) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, the Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the redemption date.
On or after any purchase or redemption date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase or redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof tendered for purchase or called for redemption.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered and concurrently cancel the surrendered Certificated Security.
Section 3.7 Sinking Fund.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the provisions of Sections 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.8. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of the Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
18
Section 3.8 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (a) may deliver outstanding Securities of a Series other than any Securities previously called for redemption and (b) may apply as a credit the Securities of a Series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such Series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.9 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of the Series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.2), the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.8 and the basis for such credit. Together with such Officers’ Certificate, the Company will deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium 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 on, the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, at or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, redemption date or repurchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of each such Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
19
Section 4.2 Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company (which as of the date of this Indenture is December 31, or if the fiscal year with respect to the Company is changed so that it ends on a date other than December 31, such other fiscal year end date as the Company shall notify to the Trustee in writing,) an Officers’ Certificate (which need not contain the statements provided for in Section 10.4), signed by at least one of the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of such signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge the Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge). Such Officers’ Certificate need not include a reference to any non-compliance that has been fully cured prior to the date as of which such certificate speaks.
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.3 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.4 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 4.5 Reports.
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and regulations, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure). The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure).
20
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person unless either (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or (ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any such resulting, surviving or transferee entity expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture to which the Company is a party, and, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, immediately after which, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. An Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel will be delivered to the Trustee, which will serve as conclusive evidence of compliance with this Section 5.1.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
The following are “Events of Default” with respect to the Securities of any Series, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) failure to pay any interest on the Securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such Series;
(b) failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable;
21
(c) failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(d) failure to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that the Company has included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of another Series of Securities) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of a Series affected by that failure a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
(e) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; and
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Officers’ Certificate or Board Resolution under which such Series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such 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 similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under one Series of Securities issued under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another Series of Securities under this Indenture.
22
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default for a Series of Securities occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)), the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such Series of Securities may require the Company to pay immediately the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities. If an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Series of Securities will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, 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:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that Series,
(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(iv) 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
(b) all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of the Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
23
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or 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 shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid with respect to 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
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
24
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote with respect to the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any 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 with respect to which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under this Indenture in all of its capacities;
Second: To the payment of all senior indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XI;
Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities with respect to which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Fourth: To the Company.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of the Securities of any Series may pursue any remedy under this Indenture applicable to the Securities of such Series only if:
(a) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default for the Securities of such Series;
25
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) the Holders furnish to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity; and
(e) during that 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a Holder of Securities to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment with respect to such Securities.
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
26
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would expose the Trustee to personal liability or that it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with such direction.
Section 6.13 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 waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his, her or its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits, and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal and interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) or to any suit instituted by the Company, the Trustee, or any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series.
27
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series:
(i) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, other than as required under the TIA; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1; and
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Article VII.
28
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on or investment of any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, security or other paper or document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such instruction, Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the relevant Series of Securities.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable under or in connection with this Indenture for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Trustee has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought.
29
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Securities shall have offered to the Trustee, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(i) The Trustee may at any time request, and the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the specimen signatures and the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to (i) any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) any act of God, (iii) natural disaster, (iv) war, (v) terrorism, (vi) civil unrest, (vii) accidents, (viii) labor dispute, (ix) disease, (x) epidemic or pandemic, (xi) quarantine, (xii) national emergency, (xiii) loss or malfunction of utility or computer software or hardware, (xiv) communications system failure, (xv) malware or ransomware or (xvi) unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems, or (xvii) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, each Agent, and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
Section 7.3 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of the Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.9 and 7.10.
30
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of any offering materials, this Indenture or the Securities; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision hereof; and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in any offering materials or the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing and it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such Series to do so.
Section 7.6 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include court costs and the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company hereby indemnifies the Trustee, including its officers, directors, employees and agents from, and hold it harmless against any damage, cost, claim, loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with its acceptance and administration of the trusts set forth under this Indenture, the performance of its obligations and/or the exercise of its rights hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder, or any other Person) or liability except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense, unless, the Trustee, in its reasonable discretion, determines that any actual or potential conflict of interest may exist, in which case the Trustee may have separate counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.
The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
31
To secure the payment obligations of the Company in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of any Series. Such lien and the obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Securities and/or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses (including court costs and the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
Section 7.7 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.7.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee for any or all Series of the Securities if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9,
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law,
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property, or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason with respect to the Securities of one or more Series, the Company 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). Within one year after the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such Series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
32
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a Series fails to comply with Section 7.9, any Holder of Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all Series, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall give a notice of its succession to Holders in accordance with Section 10.1. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.6.
In case of the appointment 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 in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (a) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers 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, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers 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 (c) 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. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and 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. 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 shall have all the rights, powers 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. On request of the Company, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this Section 7.7, the obligations of the Company under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.
Section 7.8 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
Subject to Section 7.9, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
33
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.9 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
The Trustee for the Securities shall be subject to the provisions of TIA § 310(b) during the period of time required thereby. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA § 310(b). In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in TIA § 310(b) with respect to the Securities of any Series, there shall be excluded Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.
Section 7.10 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, to the extent indicated therein.
Section 7.11 Reports by Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, if required by TIA § 313(a), the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to TIA § 313(c), a brief report that complies with TIA § 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit any reports required by TIA § 313(a) at the times specified therein.
(c) A copy of such report, if any, described in Section 7.11(a) and (b) 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 SEC and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
34
ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.1 Termination of Company’s Obligations.
(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a Series (except that all obligations of the Company under Section 7.6, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company shall execute instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series, when:
(i) either
(A) all outstanding Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and issued (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all outstanding Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and, in the case of clause (1), (2) or (3) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds (immediately available to the Holders in the case of clause (1)) in trust for such purpose (x) cash in an amount, (y) Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof that will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such Series for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; or
35
(C) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge, as contemplated by Section 2.2 to be applicable to the Securities of such Series;
(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it hereunder with respect to the Securities of such Series; and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
(b) Unless this Section 8.1(b) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of a Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate certain of its obligations under this Indenture (“covenant defeasance”) with respect to the Securities of a Series if:
(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as 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 Securities of such Series, (x) cash in an amount, (y) Government Obligations with respect to such Series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof that will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all Securities of such Series on each date that such principal, premium (if any) or interest is due and payable and (at the Stated Maturity thereof or upon redemption as provided in Section 8.1(e)) to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money and/or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to the payment of said principal, premium (if any) and interest with respect to the Securities of such Series as the same shall become due;
(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowings);
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee or a binding tax ruling to the effect that the beneficial owners of the relevant Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 8.1(b) and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and
36
(v) the Company has complied with any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the discharge of the Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1.
In such event, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in this paragraph), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge under this Indenture. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 4.1, 5.1, 7.6 and 7.7, the Events of Default described in Section 6.1(a), (b), (e) and (f), the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the obligations of the Company in Section 7.6 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities, the Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.
(c) If the Company has previously complied or is concurrently complying with the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b) (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 that are expressly applicable only to covenant defeasance) with respect to the Securities of a Series, then unless this Section 8.1(c) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may elect to be discharged (“legal defeasance”) from its obligations to make payments with respect to the Securities of such Series, if:
(i) unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee to the effect referred to in Section 8.1(b)(iv) with respect to such legal defeasance, which opinion is based on (A) a binding private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service addressed to the Company, (B) a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or (C) a change in the applicable federal income tax law (including regulations) after the date of this Indenture;
(ii) the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the legal defeasance of Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1(c); and
37
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Request requesting such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series and an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
In such event, the Company will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, the Securities of such Series, the Company’s obligations under Sections 4.1 and 5.1 shall terminate with respect to such Securities, and the entire indebtedness of the Company evidenced by such Securities shall be deemed paid and discharged. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8 shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding.
(d) If and to the extent additional or alternative means of satisfaction, discharge or defeasance of the Securities of a Series are specified to be applicable to such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate any or all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to its Securities of a Series and any or all of its obligations under the Securities of such Series if it fulfills such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be so specified, as contemplated by Section 2.2, to be applicable to the Securities of such Series.
(e) If the Securities of any Series subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 8.1 are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, the terms of the applicable trust arrangement shall provide for such redemption, and the Company shall make such arrangements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Money.
The Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of the Series with respect to which the deposit was made.
Section 8.3 Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or Government Obligations (or proceeds therefrom) held by them at any time upon the written request of the Company.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), and/or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
38
Section 8.4 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations deposited with respect to the Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.2 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a Series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Series of Securities in the following circumstances:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency as evidenced in an Officers’ Certificate;
(b) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture by a successor or transferee upon any permitted merger, consolidation or asset transfer;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities;
(d) to provide any security for or guarantees of its Securities or for the addition of an additional obligor on its Securities;
(e) to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if applicable;
(f) to add covenants that would benefit the Holders of its Securities or to surrender any rights the Company has under this Indenture;
(g) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
39
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new Series of Securities;
(i) to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of any Series otherwise in accordance with Article VIII; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of outstanding Securities of such Series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the principal executive officer, the principal financial or accounting officer or the Treasurer of the Company;
(j) to issue additional Securities of any Series, provided that such additional Securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same Series as, the applicable Series of Securities to the extent required under this Indenture; and provided further that if the additional Securities are not fungible with such Series for United States federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have a separate CUSIP number;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of and appointment of 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 trust by more than one trustee;
(l) to add additional Events of Default with respect to any Series of Securities; and
(m) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of any of its outstanding Securities in any material respect.
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.
This Indenture or the Securities of a Series may be amended or supplemented, and waivers may be obtained, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Securities of a Series), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest on, such Securities of a Series, except a payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such Series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Securities of a Series).
The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series issued by the Company may waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default with respect to those Securities. Those Holders may not, however, waive any Default or Event of Default in any payment on any Security.
40
For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Series of Securities made with the consent of Holders of such Series of Securities, shall be made with respect to that Series of Securities only, and not any other Series of Securities.
Section 9.3 Limitations.
Without the consent of each Holder of Securities of a Series affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities of such Series held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the Securities of such Series;
(c) reduce the principal of the Securities of such Series or change the Stated Maturity of the Securities of such Series;
(d) reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the Securities of such Series or change the time at which the Securities of such Series may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities of such Series;
(e) make payments on the Security of such Series payable in currency other than as originally stated in such Security;
(f) modify the subordination provisions of the Security of such Series in a manner adverse in any material respect to the Holder thereof;
(g) impair the Holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Security of such Series; or
(h) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default regarding any payment on the Securities of such Series.
Section 9.4 Form of Amendments.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his, her or its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the written notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
41
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of the Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company, in exchange for its Securities of that Series, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with such supplemental indenture’s terms. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplemental indentures which affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities, or indemnities under this Indenture, the Securities or otherwise.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Notices.
Any request, direction, instruction, demand, document, notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, shall be in English and in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first-class mail, or delivered by overnight courier as provided below, or if sent by facsimile transmission or email in PDF format, to a facsimile number or email address, as the case may be, provided by the Company or the Trustee, with a copy, mailed by first-class mail, to the Company or the Trustee, as provided below:
if to the Company:
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Attention: General Counsel
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Facsimile No: (412) 825-1501
42
with a copy to:
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
Telephone No.: (212) 326-3978
Attention: Peter E. Devlin
if to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
333 Thornall Street
Edison, New Jersey 08837
Telephone No.: (732) 321-2516
Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services – Administrator, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Notices shall be effective upon the recipient’s actual receipt thereof. Any party by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to (a) a Securityholder of a Certificated Security shall be mailed by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar and (b) a Securityholder of a Global Security shall be delivered to the Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication to any Securityholder is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
With respect to this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
43
Section 10.2 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of a Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b), as if such section applied hereto, with other Securityholders of such Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it by TIA § 312.
Section 10.3 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 10.4 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.5 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.6 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
44
Section 10.7 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or similar founder, stockholder or member of the Company will have any liability for or any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Securities or for any claim based on, with respect to or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 10.8 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.
Section 10.9 Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
45
Section 10.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.11 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.12 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.14 Judgment Currency.
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due with respect to the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a) of this clause), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable with respect to such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
46
Section 10.15 English Language.
This Indenture has been negotiated and executed in the English language. All certificates, reports, notices and other documents and communications delivered pursuant to this Indenture (including any modifications or supplements hereto), shall be in the English language, or accompanied by a certified English translation thereof. In the case of any document originally issued in a language other than English, the English language version of any such document shall for purposes of this Indenture, and absent manifest error, control the meaning of the matters set out therein.
Section 10.16 Submission to Jurisdiction.
Any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its respective properties, assets or revenues with respect to this Indenture or the Securities (a “Related Proceeding”) may be brought in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York, as the Person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in its sole discretion. The Company hereby consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding and has irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent it may effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.
Section 10.17 Waiver of Immunity.
To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or execution, on the ground of sovereignty or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such immunity with respect to its obligations under this Indenture, and, the Securities.
Section 10.18 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 10.19 USA Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with § 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act as such requirements pertain to this Indenture.
47
ARTICLE XI
SUBORDINATION
Section 11.1 Subordination Terms.
The Securities of a Series issued hereunder shall be subordinated in right of payment to the extent provided in the subordination terms with respect to the Securities of such Series that are established pursuant to Section 2.2.
Section 11.2 Notice to Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Failure to give such notice shall not affect in any manner the subordination of the Securities to Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the provisions of this or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof at the address specified in Section 10.1 from the Company or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee or agent therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received, at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal amount, accrued original issue discount, redemption price or interest, if any, as the case may be, in respect of any Security), the notice with respect to such money provided for in this Section 11.2, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent 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 XI, 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 XI, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment that it may be required to make for the benefit of such person pursuant to the terms of this Indenture pending judicial determination as to the rights of such person to receive such payment.
48
Section 11.3 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively 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 XI.
Section 11.4 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XI or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XI and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
Section 11.5 Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.
The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XI with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent of any of its rights as such holder.
Nothing in this Article XI shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.6.
49
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association., as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
50
Exhibit 5.1
250 VESEY STREET • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10281.1047
TELEPHONE: +1.212.326.3939 • JONESDAY.COM
|
October 21, 2026
|
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
| Re: |
Registration Statement on Form S-3
|
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed
on Annex A hereto (each, a “Covered Guarantor” and collectively, the “Covered Guarantors”) and the guarantor listed on Annex
B hereto (the “Non-Covered Guarantor” and, collectively with the Covered Guarantors, the “Guarantors”) in connection with
the authorization of the possible issuance and sale from time to time, on a delayed basis, by the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, of an indeterminate amount of: (i) debt securities of the Company, which may be either senior debt
securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) or subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with
the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (as defined below); (ii) guarantees of
the Company’s obligations under the Debt Securities by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”); (iii) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (iv) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more
series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock; (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, rights or other securities of the Company (the “Warrants”); (vi) depositary shares of the Company representing fractional interests in Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Depositary Shares”); (vii) contracts to
purchase Common Stock or other securities at a future date (the “Purchase Contracts”); and (viii) units consisting of one or more of the securities described in clauses (i) through (vii)
above (the “Units”), in each case, as contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion is an exhibit (as the same may be amended from time to time, the
“Registration Statement”). The Debt Securities, the Guarantees, the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Warrants, the Depositary Shares, the Purchase Contracts and the Units are
collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
|
AMSTERDAM • ATLANTA • BEIJING • BOSTON • BRISBANE • BRUSSELS • CHICAGO • CLEVELAND • COLUMBUS • DALLAS •
DETROIT • DUBAI • DÜSSELDORF • FRANKFURT • HONG KONG • HOUSTON • IRVINE • LONDON • LOS ANGELES • MADRID • MELBOURNE • MEXICO CITY • MIAMI • MILAN • MINNEAPOLIS • MUNICH • NEW YORK • PARIS • PERTH • PITTSBURGH • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO •
SÃO PAULO • SHANGHAI • SILICON VALLEY • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TAIPEI • TOKYO • WASHINGTON
|
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
October 21, 2026
Page 2
October 21, 2026
Page 2
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of such opinions. Based on the
foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
|
1.
|
The Debt Securities, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute
valid and binding obligations of the Company.
|
|
2.
|
Upon the execution, authentication, issuance, sale and delivery of the Debt Securities against payment of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or
subcommittee thereof) may determine, the Guarantees of such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors.
|
|
3.
|
The Common Stock, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value thereof as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or
subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
|
|
4.
|
The Preferred Stock, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value thereof as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or
subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
|
|
5.
|
The Warrants, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company.
|
|
6.
|
The Depositary Shares, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly
issued, and the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which they are issued.
|
|
7.
|
The Purchase Contracts, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
|
|
8.
|
The Units, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company.
|
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
October 21, 2026
Page 3
October 21, 2026
Page 3
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective (and will remain effective at the time of issuance
of any Securities thereunder); (ii) a prospectus supplement describing each class and/or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class and/or series of Securities will have been
established in accordance with the authorizing resolutions adopted by the Boards of Directors, Boards of Managers or Managing Member, as applicable (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof), of the Company and the Guarantors, the charter
documents of the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, and all applicable law; (iv) the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, will issue and deliver the applicable Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any
Securities that consist of shares of capital stock will have been authorized and reserved for issuance, in each case within the limits of the then-remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such capital stock; (v) the resolutions
authorizing the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Boards of Directors, Boards of Managers or Managing Member, as applicable (or an authorized committee or subcommittee
thereof), of the Company and the Guarantors and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company and the Guarantors will take no action inconsistent with such
resolutions; (vi) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; and (vii) any Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Deposit Agreement, or Purchase Contract Agreement (each as defined below) and each Unit will
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each party thereto other than the Company and the Guarantors.
With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of Debt Securities, we have further assumed that (i) any Debt Securities and related Guarantees will be issued pursuant to: (a) the Indenture,
dated as of August 8, 2013, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee, which is included as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, as supplemented to date
by any supplemental indenture included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Base Indenture”), (b) a senior debt indenture in the form of senior debt indenture included as
Exhibit 4.22 to the Registration Statement (each a “Senior Debt Indenture”) or (c) a subordinated debt indenture in the form of subordinated debt indenture included as Exhibit 4.23 to the
Registration Statement (each a “Subordinated Debt Indenture” and each of the Base Indenture, the Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture, an “Indenture”), in each case as such indenture may hereafter be supplemented from time to time, among other things at the time of and in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities; (ii) the Senior Debt
Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture will each have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; (iii) all terms of such Debt Securities and Guarantees not provided for in the applicable Indenture will have been established in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by the Company, the Guarantors and the applicable trustee; and (iv) such Debt Securities
and any related Guarantees will be executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Preferred Stock, we have further assumed that the Company will issue and deliver the Preferred Stock being issued and delivered after the filing with the
Secretary of State of Delaware of a certificate of amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), approved by us, establishing the designations, preferences and rights of the class or series of Preferred Stock being issued and delivered.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that: (i) the warrant agreement, approved by us, relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and an entity selected by the Company to act as the warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) will have
been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent and (ii) the Warrants will be authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement.
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
October 21, 2026
Page 4
October 21, 2026
Page 4
With respect to any Securities consisting of Depositary Shares, we have further assumed that the Depositary Shares will be: (i) issued and delivered after authorization, execution and delivery of
the deposit agreement, approved by us (the “Deposit Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and an entity selected by the Company to act as depositary (the “Depositary”) and (ii) issued after the Company deposits with the Depositary the Securities to be represented by such Depositary Shares that are authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable (to the extent applicable) or constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent applicable) as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Deposit Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Purchase Contracts, we have further assumed that: (i) the purchase contract agreement, approved by us, relating to the Purchase Contracts (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and an entity selected by the Company to act as the purchase contract agent (the “Purchase Contract Agent”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchase Contract Agent; and (ii) the Purchase Contracts will be authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchase
Contract Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Units, we have further assumed that each component of such Units will be authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent
applicable) and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent applicable) as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable unit agreement, if any.
For purposes of our opinions expressed herein, we have further assumed that (i) the Non-Covered Guarantor is, and will be at the time of issuance of any Guarantees of such Non-Covered Guarantor, a
corporation existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, (ii) the Guarantees of such Non-Covered Guarantor (A) will have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Non-Covered Guarantor, and (B) will have been
executed and delivered by the Non-Covered Guarantor under the laws of the State of Nevada and (iii) the execution, delivery, performance and compliance with the terms and provisions of the Guarantees by the Non-Covered Guarantor will not violate or
conflict with the laws of the State of Nevada, the terms and provisions of the organizational documents of the Non-Covered Guarantor, or any rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, instrument or agreement binding upon or applicable to the
Non-Covered Guarantor under the laws of the State of Nevada.
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
October 21, 2026
Page 5
October 21, 2026
Page 5
The opinions expressed herein are limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws and related
regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a
proceeding at law or at equity.
For purposes of our opinions insofar as they relate to the Guarantors, we have assumed that the obligations of each Guarantor under the Guarantees will be at the time of issuance of any Guarantees,
and would be deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be, in furtherance of its corporate or other entity purposes, or necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business of the respective Guarantor and will benefit
the respective Guarantor, directly or indirectly.
As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company, the
Guarantors and others. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the laws of the State of New York, in each case as currently in effect, and we
express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part
of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder.
|
Very truly yours,
/s/ Jones Day
|
Annex A
Covered Guarantors
Covered Guarantors
|
Name of Guarantor
|
Jurisdiction of Formation
|
|
|
GE Transportation, a Wabtec Company
|
Delaware
|
|
|
RFPC Holding Corp.
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Wabtec Components LLC
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Wabtec Holding, LLC
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Wabtec Railway Electronics Holdings, LLC
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Wabtec Transportation Systems, LLC
|
Delaware
|
|
|
Wabtec US Rail, Inc.
|
Delaware
|
Annex B
Non-Covered Guarantor
Non-Covered Guarantor
|
Name of Guarantor
|
Jurisdiction of Formation
|
|
Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc.
|
Nevada
|
Exhibit 5.2
SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
1700 S. PAVILION CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 700
LAS VEGAS, NV 89135
TELEPHONE: 702.784.5200
FACSIMILE: 702.784.5252
October 21, 2026
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
30 Isabella Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
Re: Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have served as special Nevada counsel to Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Transportation
Systems Services Operations Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor”), in connection with the filing by the Company on the date hereof of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration
Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to (i) the registration for offering and sale from time to time, on a
delayed basis, by the Company of an indeterminate number of securities identified in the Registration Statement, including debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) issuable under (a) the indenture, dated
as of August 8, 2013, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee, which is included as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, as supplemented to date by
any supplemental indenture included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Base Indenture”), (b) a senior debt indenture in the form of senior debt indenture included as Exhibit 4.22 to the Registration Statement (each a “Senior
Debt Indenture”) or (c) a subordinated debt indenture in the form of subordinated debt indenture included as Exhibit 4.23 to the Registration Statement (each a “Subordinated Debt Indenture” and each of the Base Indenture, the Senior
Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture, an “Indenture”), in each case as such indenture may hereafter be supplemented from time to time, among other things at the time of and in connection with the issuance of such Debt
Securities, and (ii) the registration by the co-registrants identified in the Registration Statement, including the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor, of guarantees of the Debt Securities (collectively, the “Subsidiary
Guarantees” and, together with the Debt Securities, the “Securities”) issuable under one or more supplements to the Indenture. The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act.
In our capacity as such counsel, we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company and the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with the
registration of the Subsidiary Guarantees, as described in the Registration Statement. For purposes of this opinion letter, and except to the extent set forth in the opinions below, we have assumed all such proceedings have been timely completed or
will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed in the Registration Statement.
|
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc.
October 21, 2026
Page 2
|
For purposes of issuing this opinion letter, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction as being true copies of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Indenture, (iii) the articles of incorporation and bylaws, each as amended to date, of the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, the “Governing
Documents”) and (iv) such other agreements, instruments, corporate records, including the Certificate of Existence with Status in Good Standing, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, dated as of October 21, 2026, and
other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of issuing this opinion letter. We have also obtained from officers and other representatives and agents of the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor and from public officials, and
have relied upon, such certificates, representations and assurances as we have deemed necessary or appropriate.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in issuing this opinion letter, we have, with your permission, assumed without independent verification that (i) each document we
have reviewed or which is referenced herein has been or will be duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto to the extent due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof; (ii) the statements of fact and
representations and warranties set forth in the documents we have reviewed are, or at all relevant times will be, true and correct as to factual matters; (iii) each natural person executing a document has or will have sufficient legal capacity to
do so; (iv) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, the signatures on all documents that we have examined are genuine, and all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies conform
to the original documents; (v) all corporate records made available to us by the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor, and all public records we have reviewed, are accurate and complete; (vi) any and all agreements, instruments, certificates or other
documents relating to the offering, issuance or sale of any Securities, including, without limitation, the base indenture and any supplemental indenture pursuant to which any Securities are issued and any document(s) evidencing a Subsidiary
Guarantee (collectively, the “Securities Documents”) have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto; (vii) the obligations of each party set forth in the Securities Documents are or will be its
valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; (viii) no Securities will be offered, issued or sold in violation or breach of, nor will any such offering, issuance or sale result in a default under, the
Governing Documents or any agreement or instrument that is binding upon the Company or the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor or any requirement or restriction imposed by any governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body; and (ix) the Nevada
Subsidiary Guarantor has taken or will take all corporate action, including the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor’s board of directors authorization of any Subsidiary Guarantee issued or to be issued by the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor, required in
connection with the authorization, offering, issuance and sale of any Securities (including, without limitation, any Subsidiary Guarantee issued or to be issued by the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor), and all Securities will be offered, issued and
sold, in compliance with all applicable laws, the Governing Documents and the relevant Securities Documents in effect at all relevant times (collectively, “Corporate Proceedings”).
We are qualified to practice law in the State of Nevada. The opinions set forth herein are expressly limited to the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada in effect on the
date hereof, and we do not purport to be experts on, or to express any opinion with respect to the applicability or effect of, the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion herein concerning, and we assume no responsibility as to laws
or judicial decisions related to, or any orders, consents or other authorizations or approvals as may be required by, any federal laws, rules or regulations, including, without limitation, any federal securities laws, rules or regulations, or any
state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, rules or regulations.
Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and having regard to legal considerations and other information that we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor is validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.
|
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Transportation Systems Services Operations Inc.
October 21, 2026
Page 3
|
2. The Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor has the corporate power and authority to enter into the Subsidiary Guarantees to which it is a party.
3. If and when all Corporate Proceedings have been taken and completed by the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of any Subsidiary Guarantee relating to a series of Debt
Securities, such Subsidiary Guarantee will be duly authorized by the Nevada Subsidiary Guarantor.
The opinions expressed herein are based upon the applicable laws of the State of Nevada and the facts in existence on the date hereof. In delivering this opinion
letter to you, we disclaim any obligation to update or supplement the opinions set forth herein or to apprise you of any changes in such laws or facts after such time as the Registration Statement becomes effective. No opinion is offered or
implied as to any matter, and no inference may be drawn, beyond the strict scope of the specific issues expressly addressed by the opinions set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we neither express nor imply
any opinion regarding the contents of the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement filed by the Company. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in
the Registration Statement filed by the Company. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation for the registration of debt securities, guarantees of debt
securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts and units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 13, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and
schedule of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December
31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
October 21, 2026
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.
|
200 South 6th Street Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Robert Pavlovic
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
1735 Market Street, 43rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(412) 215-4428
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
WESTINGHOUSE
AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 25-1615902 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
30 Isabella Street Pittsburgh, PA |
15212 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
Exhibit 25.1
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. |
Exhibit 25.1
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 City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 13th of October, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 25.1
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 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.
- 1 -
Exhibit 25.1
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
-2-
Exhibit 25.1
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
-3-
Exhibit 25.1
| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
- 4 -
Exhibit 25.1
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
 |
|
| Jeffrey T. Grubb | |
 |
|
| Robert D. Sznewajs | |
 |
|
| Dwight V. Board | |
 |
|
| P. K. Chatterjee | |
 |
|
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 25.1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 25.1
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.
Exhibit 25.1
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
2
Exhibit 25.1
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.
3
Exhibit 25.1
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
Exhibit 25.1
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
Exhibit 25.1
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.
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.
6
Exhibit 25.1
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
Exhibit 25.1
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
Exhibit 25.1
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.
9
Exhibit 25.1
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 13, 2026
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 25.1
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 Depository Institutions | $ | 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.
|
200 South 6th Street Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Robert Pavlovic
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
1735 Market Street, 43rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(412) 215-4428
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
WESTINGHOUSE
AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 25-1615902 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
30 Isabella Street Pittsburgh, PA |
15212 |
| (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 City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 13th of October, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| 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 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.
- 1 -
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
- 2 -
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
- 3 -
| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
- 4 -
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
|
|
| Jeffrey T. Grubb | |
|
|
| Robert D. Sznewajs | |
|
|
| Dwight V. Board | |
|
|
| P. K. Chatterjee | |
|
|
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
2
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.
3
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.
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.
6
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.
9
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 13, 2026
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| 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 Depository Institutions | $ | 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 25.3
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.
|
200 South 6th Street Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Robert Pavlovic
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
1735 Market Street, 43rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(412) 215-4428
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
WESTINGHOUSE
AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 25-1615902 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
30 Isabella Street Pittsburgh, PA |
15212 |
| (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 City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 13th of October, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| 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 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.
- 1 -
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association's stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
-2-
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association's management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
-3-
| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association's activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
- 4 -
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
|
|
| Jeffrey T. Grubb | |
|
|
| Robert D. Sznewajs | |
|
|
| Dwight V. Board | |
|
|
| P. K. Chatterjee | |
|
|
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
2
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.
3
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.
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.
6
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.
9
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 13, 2026
| By: | /s/ Robert P. Pavlovic | ||
| Robert P. Pavlovic | |||
| 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 Depository Institutions | $ | 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 | ||