SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Delaware 1-13754 04-3263626
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer I.D.
of Incorporation) Number)
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440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(508) 855-1000
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Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code
Page 1 of 4 pages
Exhibit Index on page 4
Item 5. Other Events
On February 3, 1997 AFC announced the sale of $300 million of Capital Securities issued by AFC Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a newly created subsidiary business trust of AFC. Each Capital Security will pay cumulative cash distributions at an annual rate of 8.207% of the stated $1,000 liquidation amount per security, payable semi-annually commencing August 15, 1997.
Proceeds from the offering of approximately $296.3 million, after commissions and other associated costs, are intended to fund a portion of proposed acquisition of the 24.2 million, publicly-held shares of its 59.5%-held subsidiary, Allmerica Property & Casualty Companies, Inc. No agreement on the proposed acquisition has been reached. In the event the proposed acquisition does not occur, the proceeds will be used for working capital and other corporate purposes.
The Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount of 8.207% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") issued by AFC. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on February 3, 2027 (the "Stated Maturity Date").
So long as no event of default with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing, AFC has the right to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time and from time to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, AFC may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to certain requirements. If and for so long as interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are so deferred, distributions on the Capital Securities will also be deferred and AFC will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions, to declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to AFC's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or to make any payment with respect to debt securities of AFC that rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. During an Extension Period, interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of distributions to which holders of the Trust Securities are entitled will continue to accumulate) at the rate of 8.207% per annum, compounded semi-annually.
AFC will, through certain guarantees, the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, and the Declaration of Trust, taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee all of the Trust's obligations under the Capital Securities.
The Capital Securities will be subject to mandatory redemption, in whole but not in part, (i) on the Stated Maturity Date upon repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Maturity Redemption Price") and (ii) at any time before the Stated Maturity Date contemporaneously with the optional prepayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be prepayable prior to the Stated Maturity Date at the option of AFC in whole but not in part, if as a result of a change in law, the interest payable by AFC on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes or the Trust is deemed to be an "investment company" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under certain circumstances the prepayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is subject to the payment of a premium over par. In additon, AFC has the right to liquidate the Trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Capital Securities.
The Capital Securities were sold in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers, and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended (the "Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent of registration under, or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and applicable state securities laws. The issue was managed by Merrill Lynch & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co.
AFC and the Trust have agreed to file a registration statement relating to an exchange offer pursuant to which another series of capital securities of the Trust, guarantees and series of junior subordinated debentures of the Company each covered by such registration statement and having the same terms as the Capital Securities, and the current guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, respectively (the "Exchange Securities"), would be offered in exchange for the Capital Securities, the current guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, respectively (the "Exchange Offer"). Under certain circumstances, in lieu of effecting the registration of the Exchange Securities, AFC and the Trust will file a shelf registration statement registering the resale of the Capital Securities, the guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
A copy of AFC's press release announcing the sale of the Capital Securities and certain agreements relating to the Capital Securities are attached hereto as Exhibits and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Press Release of AFC dated February 3, 1997 announcing the
Completion of the sale of $300 million of Capital
Securities by AFC Capital Trust I.
Exhibit 2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of AFC Capital
Trust I dated February 3, 1997
Exhibit 3 Indenture dated February 3, 1997 relating to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of AFC
Exhibit 4 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
February 3, 1997
Exhibit 5 Common Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
February 3, 1997
Exhibit 6 Registration Rights Agreement dated February 3, 1997
Exhibit 7 Purchase Agreement dated February 3, 1997 relating to the
Capital Securities
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Edward J. Parry III
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Title: Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer,
and Treasurer
Date: February 3, 1997
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Exhibit Index Page
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Exhibit 1 Press Release of AFC dated February 3, 1997 announcing the
completion of the sale of $300 million of Capital Securities by AFC
Capital Trust I.
Exhibit 2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of AFC Capital
Trust I dated February 3, 1997
Exhibit 3 Indenture dated February 3, 1997 relating to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of AFC
Exhibit 4 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
February 3, 1997
Exhibit 5 Common Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
February 3, 1997
Exhibit 6 Registration Rights Agreement dated February 3, 1997
Exhibit 7 Purchase Agreement dated February 3, 1997 relating to the
Capital Securities
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Exhibit 1
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION COMPLETES $300 MILLION
OFFERING OF TRUST-ORIGINATED CAPITAL SECURITIES
WORCESTER, Mass., February 3, 1997 - Allmerica Financial Corporation (NYSE:AFC) announced the sale of $300 million of Capital Securities issued by AFC Capital Trust I, a newly-created subsidiary business trust of Allmerica Financial. Each Capital Security will pay cumulative cash distributions at an annual rate of 8.207 percent of the stated $1,000 liquidation amount per security, payable semi-annually commencing August 15, 1997. The Capital Securities are guaranteed by Allmerica Financial.
Proceeds from the offering of approximately $296.3 million, after commissions and other associated costs, are intended to fund a portion of Allmerica Financial's proposed acquisition of the 24.2 million, publicly-held shares of its 59.5%-held subsidiary, Allmerica Property & Casualty Companies, Inc. (NYSE:APY). No agreement on the proposed acquisition has been reached. In the event the proposed acquisition does not occur, the proceeds will be used for working capital and other corporate purposes.
The Capital Securities were sold in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers, and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The issue was managed by Merrill Lynch & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Allmerica Financial, headquartered in Worcester, Mass., is the holding company for a diversified group of insurance and financial services companies with total assets of $19 billion. The Allmerica Financial companies market insurance and retirement savings products, as well as group benefit programs, to individual and institutional clients. Through Allmerica P&C, Allmerica Financial offers property and casualty insurance products nationally through an independent agent distribution.
CONTACTS
Investors: Jean Peters Media: Michael F. Buckley
Vice President, Investor Relations Director, Public Information
(508)855-3599 (508) 855-3099
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EXHIBIT 2
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION
OF TRUST
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
Dated as of February 3 , 1997
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ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS............................................................2
Section 1.1. Definitions...............................................................2
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT.....................................................................9
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application..........................................9
Section 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities...........................................10
Section 2.3. Reports by the Property Trustee..........................................10
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to Property Trustee.....................................10
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.........................11
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver................................................11
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.................................................13
ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION...........................................................................14
Section 3.1. Name.....................................................................14
Section 3.2. Office...................................................................14
Section 3.3. Purpose..................................................................14
Section 3.4. Authority................................................................14
Section 3.5. Title to Property of the Trust...........................................15
Section 3.6. Powers and Duties of the Administrative Trustees.........................15
Section 3.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.....................18
Section 3.8. Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee................................19
Section 3.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee..............21
Section 3.10. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.......................................23
Section 3.11. Delaware Trustee.........................................................25
Section 3.12. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]..................................................25
Section 3.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities...................25
Section 3.14. Duration of Trust........................................................26
Section 3.15. Mergers..................................................................26
ARTICLE IV SPONSOR.................................................................................28
Section 4.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities..................................28
Section 4.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor..........................................28
Section 4.3. Right to Proceed.........................................................28
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ARTICLE V TRUSTEES.................................................................................29
Section 5.1. Number of Trustees: Appointment of Co-Trustee............................29
Section 5.2. Delaware Trustee.........................................................29
Section 5.3. Property Trustee; Eligibility............................................30
Section 5.4. Certain Qualifications of Administrative Trustees and Delaware
Trustee Generally........................................................31
Section 5.5. Administrative Trustees..................................................31
Section 5.6. Delaware Trustee.........................................................31
Section 5.7. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.........................32
Section 5.8. Vacancies among Trustees.................................................33
Section 5.9. Effect of Vacancies......................................................33
Section 5.10. Meetings.................................................................34
Section 5.11. Delegation of Power......................................................34
Section 5.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business..............35
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS...........................................................................35
Section 6.1. Distributions............................................................35
ARTICLE VII ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.................................................................35
Section 7.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities..................................35
Section 7.2. Execution and Authentication.............................................36
Section 7.3. Form and Dating..........................................................37
Section 7.4. Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent...............................39
Section 7.5. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust......................................39
Section 7.6. Replacement Securities...................................................40
Section 7.7. Outstanding Capital Securities...........................................40
Section 7.8. Capital Securities in Treasury...........................................40
Section 7.9. Temporary Securities.....................................................40
Section 7.10. Cancellation.............................................................42
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST..................................................................42
Section 8.1. Termination of Trust.....................................................42
ARTICLE IX TRANSFER OF INTERESTS...................................................................43
Section 9.1. Transfer of Securities...................................................43
Section 9.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.....................................44
Section 9.3. Book Entry Interests.....................................................52
Section 9.4. Notices to Clearing Agency...............................................53
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Section 9.5. Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.................................53
ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES,
TRUSTEES OR OTHERS................................................................53
Section 10.1. Liability................................................................53
Section 10.2. Exculpation..............................................................54
Section 10.3. Fiduciary Duty...........................................................54
Section 10.4. Indemnification..........................................................55
Section 10.5. Outside Businesses.......................................................58
Section 10.6. Compensation; Fees.......................................................59
ARTICLE XI ACCOUNTING..............................................................................59
Section 11.1. Fiscal Year..............................................................59
Section 11.3. Banking..................................................................60
Section 11.4. Withholding..............................................................60
ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS................................................................61
Section 12.1. Amendments...............................................................61
ARTICLE XIII REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND
DELAWARE TRUSTEE.............................................................64
Section 13.1. Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee.......................64
Section 13.2. Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee.......................65
ARTICLE XIV REGISTRATION RIGHTS....................................................................66
Section 14.1. Registration Rights Agreement............................................66
ARTICLE XV MISCELLANEOUS...........................................................................66
Section 15.1. Notices..................................................................66
Section 15.2. Governing Law............................................................67
Section 15.3. Intention of the Parties.................................................67
Section 15.4. Headings.................................................................67
Section 15.5. Successors and Assigns...................................................68
Section 15.6. Partial Enforceability...................................................68
Section 15.7. Counterparts.............................................................68
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
February 3, 1997
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and effective as of February 3, 1997, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;
WHEREAS, the Delaware Trustee (as defined herein) and the Sponsor established AFC Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a trust created under the Delaware Business Trust Act pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of January 24, 1997 (the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 24, 1997, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Debentures of the Debenture Issuer (each as hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration; and
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such business trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in
the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
Affiliate of any Administrative Trustee; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrative Trustee; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
defined in the Indenture) that has occurred and is continuing in respect of the Debentures.
Holder(s) of outstanding Trust Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
(a) a statement that the officer signing the Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer 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, in the opinion of such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
(a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed
by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by (S)(S) 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(b) The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under (S)(S) 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Within 90 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 1997, the Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Capital Securities such reports as are required by (S) 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by (S) 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of (S) 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Sponsor shall promptly notify the Property Trustee when the Capital Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as are required by (S) 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by (S) 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by (S) 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, such compliance certificate to be delivered annually on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Sponsor.
Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent provided for in this Declaration that relate to any of the matters set forth in (S) 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to (S) 314(c) (1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super Majority") to be waived under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion in aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of (S) 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such (S) 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of the Capital Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to
the Common Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote, or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to be
waived, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have
waived such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this
Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration may only be waived by
the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion in aggregate liquidation
amount of the Common Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of
the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding;
Act are hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
(c) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the Property Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of the Capital Securities, constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(c) shall be in lieu of (S) 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such (S) 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default except:
(i) a default under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) of the Indenture relating to the Debentures; or
(ii) any default as to which the Property Trustee shall have received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have actual knowledge.
(c) Unless the notice under Section 2.7(a) shall not have been transmitted, within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default actually known to the Sponsor, the Sponsor shall transmit notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Capital Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, unless such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived. The Sponsor and the Administrative
Trustees shall file annually with the Property Trustee in accordance with
Section 2.4 a certification as to whether or not they are in compliance with all
the conditions and covenants applicable to them under this Declaration.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
The Trust is named "AFC Capital Trust I" as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrative Trustees.
The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Allmerica Financial Corporation, 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653. On ten Business Days written notice to the Holders of Securities, the Administrative Trustees may designate another principal office.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell Securities, (b) use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to acquire the Debentures, and (c) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, mortgage or pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by the Administrative Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on
the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration.
Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Trustee Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
The Administrative Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:
(b) in connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the Exchange Offer to:
(i) execute, if necessary, an offering memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum") in preliminary and final form prepared by the Sponsor, in relation to the offering and sale of Series A Capital Securities to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to institutional "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, and to execute and file with the Commission, at such time as determined by the Sponsor, any Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;
(ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the Sponsor, or take any acts as determined by the Sponsor to be necessary in order to qualify or register all or part of the Capital Securities in any State in which the Sponsor has determined to qualify or register such Capital Securities for sale;
(iii) at the direction of the Sponsor, execute and file an application, prepared by the Sponsor, to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market for listing or quotation of the Capital Securities;
(iv) to execute and deliver letters, documents, or instruments with DTC and other Clearing Agencies relating to the Capital Securities;
(v) if required, execute and file with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto, prepared by the Sponsor, relating to the registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and
(vi) execute and enter into the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities;
(d) to give the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of a Special Event;
(e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including and with respect to, for the purposes of (S)316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices, which are not or have not been issued by the Property Trustee as provided herein, to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates;
(f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities set forth in Annex I hereto;
(g) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;
(h) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services;
(i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the Trust Indenture Act;
(j) to give the certificate required by (S) 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate may be executed by any Administrative Trustee;
(k) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the Trust;
(l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, Registrar and Exchange Agent for the Securities or to appoint a Paying Agent for the Securities as provided in Section 7.4 except for such time as such power to appoint a Paying Agent is vested in the Property Trustee;
(m) to give prompt written notice to the Property Trustee and to Holders of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period under the Indenture;
(n) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all matters necessary or incidental to the foregoing;
(o) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created;
(p) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or with applicable law, that the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities of the Trust as set out in this Section 3.6, including, but not limited to:
(i) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(ii) causing the Trust to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
(iii) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes.
(q) to take all action necessary to consummate the Exchange Offer or
otherwise cause the Capital Securities to be registered pursuant to an effective registration statement in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement; and
(r) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust.
The Administrative Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Administrative Trustees shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in Section 3.3.
Subject to this Section 3.6, the Administrative Trustees shall
have none of the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in
Section 3.8.
Any expenses incurred by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor. The Administrative Trustees shall take all actions on behalf of the Trust that are not specifically required by this Declaration to be taken by any other Trustee.
(a) The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall not, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration. The Trust shall not:
(i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;
(ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
(iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose;
(iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures or pledge any assets or enter into any mortgages;
(v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever except as otherwise expressly provided herein;
(vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; or
(vii) other than as provided in this Declaration or Annex I, (A) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding with respect to any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercise any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such modification will not cause more than an insubstantial risk that for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust.
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrative Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee (if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).
(c) The Property Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the "Property Trustee Account") in the name of and under the exclusive control of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Holders and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Trustee Account and make payments to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Trustee Account in accordance with Section 6.1. Funds in the Property Trustee Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration. The Property Trustee Account shall be an account that is maintained with a banking institution the rating on whose long-term unsecured indebtedness is at least equal to the rating assigned to the Capital Securities by a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act;
(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or
mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain events.
(d) The Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Securities set forth in Annex I hereto.
(e) Subject to Section 3.9(a), the Property Trustee may take any
Legal Action which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of
which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge or the
Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust
Indenture Act and if such Property Trustee shall have failed to take such Legal
Action, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Holders of the Capital
Securities may take such Legal Action, to the same extent as if such Holders of
Capital Securities held an aggregate principal amount of Debentures equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of such Capital Securities, without first
proceeding against the Property Trustee or the Trust; provided however, that if
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on the date such principal,
premium, if any, or interest is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption,
on the redemption date), then a Holder of Capital Securities may pursuant to
Section 5.04 of the Indenture directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
payment to such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after
the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such
Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be
subrogated to the rights of such Holder of Capital Securities to the extent of
any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Capital Securities in
such Direct Action. Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the Holders
of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy
available to the holders of the Debentures.
(f) Subject to Section 5.7 hereof, the Property Trustee shall not resign as a Trustee unless either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities set forth in Annex I hereto; or
(ii) a successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.7 (a "Successor Property Trustee").
(g) The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Property Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities.
(h) The Property Trustee shall be authorized to undertake any actions
set forth in (S) 317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(i) For such time as the Property Trustee is the Paying Agent, the
Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons to act as additional Paying
Agents and to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation payments on
behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such Paying Agent
shall comply with (S) 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any such additional
Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time the Property
Trustee remains as Paying Agent and a successor Paying Agent or additional
Paying Agents may be (but are not required to be) appointed at any time by the
Property Trustee while the Property Trustee is so acting as Paying Agent.
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(j) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 3.6.
The Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Property Trustee shall not take any
action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out
in Section 3.3.
(a) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and in the Securities and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Property Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Declaration and in the Securities and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and in the Securities, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Declaration or the Securities against the Property Trustee; and
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Declaration;
(iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Declaration or indemnity satisfactory to the Property Trustee against such risk or liability is not assured to it;
(v) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Trustee Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on
liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall have no duty or liability for or with respect to the value, genuineness, existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of any taxes or assessments levied thereon or in connection therewith;
(vii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor. Money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except to the extent otherwise required by law; and
(viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees or the Sponsor.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:
(i) the Property 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, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustees contemplated by this Declaration may be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustees;
(iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof;
(v) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel or other experts of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel and experts with respect to legal matters or advice within the scope of such experts' area of expertise shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion, such counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees. The Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Property Trustee security and indemnity, satisfactory to the Property Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Property Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property Trustee provided, that, nothing contained in this Section 3.10(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration;
(vii) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Property Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(viii) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(ix) any action taken by the Property Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Property Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Property Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;
(x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the
Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the
Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same
proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be entitled to
direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Securities in respect of
such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or
right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance
with such instructions;
(xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; and
(xii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Declaration.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation or which would expose the Property Trustee to liability, financial or otherwise. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than
Section 5.2 (and subject to Section 5.2), the Delaware Trustee shall not be
entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the
duties and responsibilities of the Administrative Trustees or the Property
Trustee described in this Declaration. Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the
Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of
fulfilling the requirements of (S)3807 of the Business Trust Act.
Section 3.12. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property
of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities.
The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII hereof, shall have existence up to February 3, 2028.
(a) The Trust may not merge with or convert into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, except as described in Section 3.15(b) and (c) or Section 3 of Annex I.
(i) such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either:
(A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or
(B) substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures;
(iii) the Successor Securities that are issued in place of the Capital Securities are listed, or any such Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which the Capital Securities are then listed or quoted, if any;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
(v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of such Holders' interests in the new entity);
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust;
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Sponsor has received an opinion of an independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that:
(A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the Holders' interest in the new entity); and
(B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and
(viii) the Sponsor or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the common securities of such Successor Entity and guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the Successor Entity not to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
At the Closing Time, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities then issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Series A Capital Securities are issued and sold.
In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the following activities:
(a) to prepare the Offering Memorandum and to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission any Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;
(b) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;
(c) if deemed necessary or advisable by the Sponsor, to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for listing or quotation of the Capital Securities;
(d) if deemed necessary or advisable by the Sponsor, to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; and
(e) to negotiate the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities.
The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of the Holders of Capital Securities, in the event that a failure of the Trust to pay Distributions on the Capital Securities is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the Debentures, to institute a proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer for enforcement of its payment obligations on
the Debentures.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
The number of Trustees initially shall be five (5), and:
(a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and
If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be:
(a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(a) There shall at all times be one Trustee (the "Property Trustee") which shall act as Property Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 5.3(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.7(c).
(c) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of (S) 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it were the obligor referred to in (S) 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all respects comply with the provisions of (S) 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) The Capital Securities Guarantee and the Indenture shall be
deemed to be specifically described in this Declaration for purposes of clause
(i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(e) The initial Property Trustee shall be:
The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 West 33rd Street New York, New York 10001
Each Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Property Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more Authorized Officers.
The initial Administrative Trustees shall be:
John P. Kavanaugh John F. Kelly Edward J. Parry, III
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a meeting of the Administrative Trustees is called with respect to any matter over which the Administrative Trustees have power to act, any power of the Administrative Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrative Trustee.
(c) An Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purposes of signing any documents which the Administrative Trustees have power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.
The initial Delaware Trustee shall be:
Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware 1201 Market Street, 9th Floor Wilmington, Delaware 19801
(a) Subject to Section 5.7(b) of this Declaration and to Section 6(b) of Annex I hereto, Trustees may be appointed or removed without cause at any time:
(i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written instrument executed by the Sponsor;
(ii) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities; and
(iii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing after the issuance of the Securities, with respect to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, by vote of Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities voting as a class at a meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) (i) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 5.7(a) until a successor Property Trustee (the "Successor Property Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor; and
(ii) the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with this Section 5.7(b) until a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and 5.4 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor.
(i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Property Trustee shall be effective:
(A) until a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and
the resigning Property Trustee; or
(B) until the assets of the Trust have been completely liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed to the Holders of the Securities; and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Delaware Trustee.
(d) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts to promptly appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property Trustee, as the case may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an instrument of resignation in accordance with this Section 5.7.
(e) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this
Section 5.7 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of resignation or
removal, the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee resigning or being removed, as
applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of
a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
prescribe, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee,
as the case may be.
(f) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Administrative Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Administrative Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.7.
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Declaration.
If there is more than one Administrative Trustee, meetings of the Administrative Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Administrative Trustee. Regular meetings of the Administrative Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Administrative Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the Administrative Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Administrative Trustees or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of an Administrative Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where an Administrative Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Administrative Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Administrative Trustees present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Administrative Trustees. In the event there is only one Administrative Trustee, any and all action of such Administrative Trustee shall be evidenced by a written consent of such Administrative Trustee.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 3.6, including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and
(b) the Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be, shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be, hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of Annex I and the relevant Holder's Securities. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including Compounded Interest (as defined in the Indenture) and Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture)), premium and/or principal on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee or Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or any other payments pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the Debentures held by the Property Trustee (the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Property Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders.
ARTICLE VII
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
(a) The Administrative Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of capital securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Series A Capital Securities") and one class of common securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Common Securities"). The Administrative Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of capital securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the Trust having such terms as set forth in Annex I (the "Series B Capital Securities") in exchange for Series A Capital Securities accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Capital Securities shall not bear the legends required by Section 9.2(i) unless the Holder of such Series A Capital Securities is either (A) a broker-dealer who purchased such Series A Capital Securities directly from the Trust for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, (B) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series A Capital Securities or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144A) of the Trust. The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Securities.
(b) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust.
(c) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(d) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Capital Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration.
(a) The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by an Administrative Trustee. In case any Administrative Trustee of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrative Trustee before the Securities so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Securities nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Securities had not ceased to be such Administrative Trustee; and any Securities may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be the Administrative Trustees of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrative Trustee.
(b) One Administrative Trustee shall sign the Capital Securities for the Trust by manual or facsimile signature. Unless otherwise determined by the Trust, such signature shall, in the case of Common Securities, be a manual signature.
A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized officer of the Property Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this Declaration.
Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the
Property Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue.
The aggregate number of Capital Securities outstanding at any time shall not
exceed the number set forth in the Terms in Annex I hereto except as provided in
Section 7.6.
The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Trust to authenticate Capital Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Capital Securities whenever the Property Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Declaration to authentication by the Property Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Property Trustee to deal with the Sponsor or an Affiliate.
The Capital Securities and the Property Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Declaration. Certificates representing the Securities may be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof. The Securities may have letters, CUSIP or other numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Trust). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Property Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Property Trustee and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
Capital Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Property Trustee and the Clearing Agency or its nominee as hereinafter provided.
The Trust shall execute and the Property Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 7.3, authenticate and make available for delivery initially one or more Rule 144A Global Capital Securities and one or more Regulation S Global Capital Securities that (i) shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. or other nominee of such Clearing Agency and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Clearing Agency or pursuant to such Clearing Agency's written instructions or held by the Property Trustee as custodian for the Clearing Agency.
Members of, or participants in, the Clearing Agency ("Participants") shall have no rights under this Declaration with respect to any Rule 144A Global Capital Security or any Regulation S Global Capital Security held on their behalf by the Clearing Agency or by the Property Trustee as the custodian of the Clearing Agency or under such Rule 144A Global Capital Security or such Regulation S Global Capital Security, and the Clearing Agency may be treated by the Trust, the Property Trustee and any agent of the Trust or the Property Trustee as the absolute owner of such Rule 144A Global Capital Security or such Regulation S Global Capital Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Trust, the Property Trustee or any agent or employee of the Trust or the Property Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Clearing Agency or impair, as between the Clearing Agency and its Participants, the operation of customary practices of such Clearing Agency governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Rule 144A Global Capital Security or any Regulation S Global Capital Security.
Rule 144A Global Capital Security pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2.
Restricted Definitive Capital Securities will bear the applicable Restricted
Securities Legend set forth on Exhibit A-1 unless removed in accordance with
Section 9.2.
The Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, (i) an office or agency where Capital Securities may be presented for registration of transfer ("Registrar"), (ii) an office or agency where Capital Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent") and (iii) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for exchange ("Exchange Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Capital Securities and of their transfer. The Trust may appoint the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Exchange Agent and may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more additional exchange agents in such other locations as it shall determine which paying agent and/or exchange agent must be acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company. The term "Registrar" includes any additional registrar, "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent and the term "Exchange Agent" includes any additional exchange agent. The Trust may change any Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees. The Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Paying Agent or Exchange Agent, the Property Trustee shall act as such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent. The Trust shall act as Paying Agent, Registrar and Exchange Agent for the Common Securities.
The Trust initially appoints the Property Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent, and Exchange Agent for the Capital Securities. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Registrar, Paying Agent, or Exchange Agent the Trust shall appoint a successor which successor shall be acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company.
The Trust shall require each Paying Agent other than the Property Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Property Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of liquidation amounts or Distributions on the Securities, and will notify the Property Trustee if there are insufficient funds for such purpose. While any such insufficiency continues, the Property Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee. The Trust at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee and to
account for any money disbursed by it. Upon payment over to the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Trust or an Affiliate of the Trust) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Trust or the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Trust or the Sponsor acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.
If a Holder claims that a Security owned by it has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken or if such Security is mutilated and is surrendered to the Trust or in the case of the Capital Securities to the Property Trustee, the Trust shall issue and the Property Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Property Trustee's and the Trust's requirements, as the case may be, are met. An indemnity bond must be provided by the Holder which, in the judgment of the Property Trustee, is sufficient to protect the Trustees, the Sponsor or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Trust may charge such Holder for its expenses in replacing a Security.
The Capital Securities outstanding at any time are all the Capital Securities authenticated by the Property Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Capital Security is replaced, pursuant to Section 7.6 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Property Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Capital Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If Capital Securities are considered paid in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, they cease to be outstanding and Distributions on them shall cease to accumulate.
A Capital Security does not cease to be outstanding because one of the Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the required amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Capital Securities owned by the Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, as the case may be, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Property Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
(a) Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Trust may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Trust considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Trust shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.
(b) A Global Capital Security deposited with the Clearing Agency
or with the Property Trustee as custodian for the Clearing Agency pursuant to
Section 7.3 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of
definitive certificated Capital Securities only if such transfer complies with
Section 9.2 and (i) the Clearing Agency notifies the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Clearing Agency for such Global Capital
Security or if at any time such Clearing Agency ceases to be a "clearing agency"
registered under the Exchange Act and a clearing agency is not appointed by the
Sponsor within 90 days of such notice, (ii) a Default or an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Trust at its sole discretion elects to
cause the issuance of definitive certificated Capital Securities.
(c) Any Global Capital Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of definitive certificated Capital Securities pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be surrendered by the Clearing Agency to the Property Trustee located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Capital Security, an equal aggregate liquidation amount of Securities of authorized denominations in the form of certificated Capital Securities. Any portion of a Global Capital Security transferred pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names as the Clearing Agency shall direct. Any Capital Security in the form of definitive certificated Capital Securities delivered in exchange for an interest in the Restricted Capital Security in global form shall, except as otherwise provided by Sections 7.3 and 9.2, bear the applicable Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto.
(d) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.9(c), the Holder of a Global Capital Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Participants and Persons that may hold interests through Participants, to take any action which such Holder is entitled to take under this Declaration or the Securities.
(e) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 7.9(b), the Trust will promptly make available to the Property Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Capital Securities in fully registered form without distribution coupons.
The Trust at any time may deliver Capital Securities to the Property Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent shall forward to the Property Trustee any Capital Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, redemption, exchange or payment. The Property Trustee shall promptly cancel all Capital Securities, surrendered for registration of transfer, redemption, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Capital Securities as the Trust directs, provided that the Property Trustee shall not be obligated to destroy Capital Securities. The Trust may not issue new Capital Securities to replace Capital Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation or that any Holder has exchanged.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF TRUST
(a) The Trust shall automatically terminate:
(i) upon the bankruptcy of the Sponsor;
(ii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or liquidation or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor; or the revocation of the Sponsor's charter and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
an opinion of an independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (a "No Recognition Opinion"), which opinion may rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that the Holders will not recognize any gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the dissolution of the Trust and the distribution of Debentures;
(iv) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(v) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities;
(vi) upon the repayment of the Debentures or at such time as no Debentures are outstanding; or
(vii) the expiration of the term of the Trust provided in
Section 3.14.
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 8.1(a), the Administrative Trustees shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(c) The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the termination of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
(a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(b) Subject to this Article IX, Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration. Any transfer or purported transfer of any security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(c) The Sponsor may not transfer the Common Securities other than to a directly or indirectly, wholly-owned subsidiary thereof.
(d) The Administrative Trustees shall provide for the registration of Capital Securities and of the transfer of Capital Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Administrative Trustees may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital Securities, the Administrative Trustees shall cause one or more new Capital Securities to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Every Capital Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrative Trustees and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Capital Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Property Trustee. A transferee of a Capital Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Capital Security. By acceptance of a Capital Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(l), after the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, the Trust shall issue and the Property Trustee, upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, shall authenticate a Capital Security in global form without the Restricted Securities Legend (the "Unrestricted Global Capital Security") for deposit with the Clearing Agency or its custodian to evidence transfers of beneficial interests from the (i) Rule 144A Global Capital Security or the Regulation S Global Capital Security and (ii) Restricted Definitive Capital Securities.
(x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Capital Securities; or
(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Trustees and the Registrar or co-registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(ii) in the case of Definitive Capital Securities that are Restricted Definitive Capital Securities:
(A) if such Restricted Capital Securities are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or
(B) if such Restricted Capital Securities are being transferred: (i) a certification from the transferor in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1, and (ii) if the Trust so requests, evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the Restricted Securities Legend.
Property Trustee and Administrative Trustees, together with:
(i) if such Definitive Capital Security is a Restricted Capital Security, certification (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1); provided, however, that such Definitive Capital Security may only be exchanged for an interest in a Regulation S Global Security where such Definitive Capital Security is being transferred pursuant to Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available); and
(ii) whether or not such Definitive Capital Security is a Restricted Capital Security, written instructions directing the Property Trustee to make, or to direct the Clearing Agency to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to the appropriate Global Capital Security to reflect an increase in the number of the Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital Security, then the Property Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Capital Security and cause, or direct the Clearing Agency to cause, the aggregate number of Capital Securities represented by the appropriate Global Capital Security to be increased accordingly. If no Global Capital Securities are then outstanding, the Trust shall issue and the Property Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of any Administrative Trustee, an appropriate number of Capital Securities in global form.
(i) Any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security may upon request, but only upon 20 days prior notice to the Property Trustee, and if accompanied by the information specified below, exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Capital Security representing the same number of Capital Securities. Upon receipt by the Property Trustee from the Clearing Agency or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security of written instructions or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Clearing Agency or the Person designated by the Clearing Agency as having such a beneficial interest in a Restricted Capital Security and a certification from the transferor (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1), which may be submitted by facsimile, then the Property Trustee will cause the aggregate number of Capital Securities represented by Global Capital Securities to be reduced on its books and records and, following such reduction, the Trust will execute
and the Property Trustee will authenticate and make available for delivery to the transferee a Definitive Capital Security.
(ii) Definitive Capital Securities issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security pursuant to this Section 9.2(f) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Clearing Agency, pursuant to instructions from its Participants or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Property Trustee in writing. The Property Trustee shall deliver such Capital Securities to the persons in whose names such Capital Securities are so registered in accordance with such instructions of the Clearing Agency.
Prior to the expiration of the restricted period, as contemplated by Regulation S, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Capital Security may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Capital Security only if such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Capital Securities pursuant to Rule 144A and the transferor first delivers to the Property Trustee a written certificate (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1) to the effect that the Capital Securities are being transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.
Beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Capital Security may be transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Regulation S Global Capital Security, whether before or after the expiration of such restricted period, as contemplated by Regulation S, only if the transferor first delivers to the Property Trustee a written certificate (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1) to the effect that such transfer is pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.
(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), each Capital Security certificate evidencing the Global Capital Securities and the Definitive Capital Securities (and all Capital Securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities Legend") in substantially the following form, as applicable:
THE CAPITAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, [OR NOT SUBJECT TO], REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (THE "CORPORATION") OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON- U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR
INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE TRUST. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
and in addition, in the case of the Regulation S Global Capital Security:
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IS AVAILABLE.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Restricted Capital Security (including any Restricted Capital Security represented by a Global Capital Security) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act after such registration statement ceases to be effective:
(A) in the case of any Restricted Capital Security that is a Definitive Capital Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Restricted Capital Security for a Definitive Capital Security that does not bear the Restricted Securities Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Restricted Capital Security; and
(B) in the case of any Restricted Capital Security that is represented
by a Global Capital Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder of such Global Capital Security to exchange such Global Capital Security for another Global Capital Security that does not bear the Restricted Securities Legend.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Capital Securities and Global Capital Securities at the Registrar's request in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.
(ii) Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be effected without charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Trust or the Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to it.
(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of (a) Capital Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or (b) any Capital Security so selected for redemption.
(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registrations of transfer of any Capital Security, the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Capital Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Capital Security for the purpose of receiving Distributions on such Capital Security (subject to Section 2(c) of Annex I) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(v) All Capital Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(i) The Property Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Capital Security, a Participant in the Clearing Agency or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Clearing Agency or its nominee or of any Participant thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Capital Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Participant, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Clearing Agency) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Capital Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Capital Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Clearing Agency or its nominee in the case of a Global Capital Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Capital Security shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Clearing Agency. The Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Clearing Agency or any agent thereof with respect to its Participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Property Trustee and Registrar shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Declaration or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Capital Security (including any transfers between or among Clearing Agency Participants or beneficial owners in any Global Capital 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 Declaration, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
The Sponsor shall present the Property Trustee with an Officers' Certificate certifying the following:
(A) upon issuance of the Series B Capital Securities, the transactions
contemplated by the Exchange Offer have been consummated; and
(B) the number of Series A Capital Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented by a Global Capital Security and the number of Series A Capital Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented by Definitive Capital Securities, the name of each Holder of such Definitive Capital Securities, the liquidation amount of Capital Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer by each such Holder and the name and address to which Definitive Capital Securities for Series B Capital Securities shall be registered and sent for each such Holder.
The Property Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers' Certificate, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (x) to the effect that the Series B Capital Securities have been registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (y) with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(p) of the Registration Rights Agreement and (iii) an order of the Trust as set forth in Section 7.2, shall authenticate (A) a Global Capital Security for Series B Capital Securities in aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of Series A Capital Securities represented by a Global Capital Security indicated in such Officers' Certificate as having been properly tendered and (B) Definitive Capital Securities representing Series B Capital Securities registered in the names of, and in the liquidation amounts indicated in such Officers' Certificate.
If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, less than all the outstanding Series A Capital Securities shall have been properly tendered and not withdrawn, the Property Trustee shall make an endorsement on the Global Capital Security for Series A Capital Securities indicating the reduction in the number and aggregate liquidation amount represented thereby as a result of the Exchange Offer.
The Trust shall deliver such Definitive Capital Securities for Series B Capital Securities to the Holders thereof as indicated in such Officers' Certificate.
Global Capital Securities shall initially be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Clearing Agency, and no Capital Security Beneficial Owner will receive a definitive Capital Security Certificate representing such Capital Security Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Capital Securities, except as
provided in Section 9.2 and Section 7.9. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Capital Securities certificates have been issued to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.2 or Section 7.9:
(a) the provisions of this Section 9.3 shall be in full force and effect;
(b) the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration (including the payment of Distributions on the Global Capital Securities and receiving approvals, votes or consents hereunder) as the Holder of the Capital Securities and the sole holder of the Global Certificates and shall have no obligation to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.3
conflict with any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this
Section 9.3 shall control; and
(d) the rights of the Capital Security Beneficial Owners shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Capital Security Beneficial Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants and the Clearing Agency shall receive and transmit payments of Distributions on the Global Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants. The Clearing Agency will make book entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants.
Whenever a notice or other communication to the Capital Security Holders is required under this Declaration, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to the Holders of Global Capital Securities to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners.
If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities depositary with respect to the Capital Securities, the Administrative Trustees may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to such Capital Securities.
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
(i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; and
(ii) be required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities any deficit upon dissolution or termination of the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The Sponsor shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to (S) 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the
Holders of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
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(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by such Indemnified Person with reasonable care on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any Covered Persons; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or any Holder of Securities,
the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law.
(a) (i) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified 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 Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, 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 the Trust, 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 judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company Indemnified 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 the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified 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 Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) 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 the Trust and except that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware 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 such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(iv) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
Section 10.4(a)
(unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor or the Debenture Issuer, as the case may be, only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Company Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (1) by the Administrative Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of such Administrative Trustees who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrative Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust.
(v) Expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred
by a Company Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the
Sponsor or the Debenture Issuer, as the case may be, in advance of the
final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified Person to repay
such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to
be indemnified by the Debenture Issuer as authorized in this Section
10.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the
Debenture Issuer if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by
the Administrative Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested
Administrative Trustees, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even
if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrative Trustees so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) the
Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to
the Administrative Trustees, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the
time such determination is made, such Company Indemnified Person acted in
bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any
criminal proceeding, that such Company Indemnified Person believed or had
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any
advance be made in instances where the Administrative Trustees, independent
legal counsel or Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such
person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital
Security Holders.
(vi) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture Issuer or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Sponsor or the Debenture Issuer as the case may be and each Company Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at
any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing.
(vii) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified Person 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 the Sponsor or the Debenture Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a).
(viii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.
(ix) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(b) The Sponsor agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee,
(ii) the Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through
(iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold
each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability,
damage, claim or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income
of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred without negligence or bad faith
on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and
expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself
against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise
or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the termination of
this Declaration or the earlier resignation or removal of the Property Trustee
or the Delaware Trustee.
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee (subject to Section 5.3(c)) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee, or the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
The Sponsor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration and the offering of the Capital Securities (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith.
The provisions of this Section 10.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any Trustee.
No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any property of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 10.6
ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTING
The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code.
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrative Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. The Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Administrative Trustees.
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each of the Holders, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss;
(c) The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the Holders, any annual United States federal income tax information statement, required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrative Trustees shall endeavor to deliver all such information statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.
(d) The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with the appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal income tax return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
The Trust and the Administrative Trustees shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Administrative Trustees shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to Distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claim over withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed by:
(i) the Administrative Trustees (or if there are more than two Administrative Trustees a majority of the Administrative Trustees);
(ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee; and
(iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee.
(b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective:
(i) unless, the Property Trustee shall have first received;
(A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and
(B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities),
(ii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be to:
(A) cause the Trust to fail to continue to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust;
(B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; or
(C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(c) at such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain outstanding, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder of Securities may be effected only with such additional requirements as may be set forth in the terms of such Securities;
(d) Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;
(e) Article Four shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities;
(f) The rights of the holders of the Common Securities under Article Five to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities; and
(g) Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:
(i) cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Declaration which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the Declaration; and
(ii)to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act.
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Administrative Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or admitted for trading. The Administrative Trustees shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrative Trustees one or more notices in a writing stating that the signing Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders calling a meeting shall specify in writing the certificates evidencing the Securities held by the Holders exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of Securities:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of Securities having a right to vote thereat at least seven days and not more than 60 days before the
date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders is permitted or required under this Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or admitted for trading, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The Administrative Trustees may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Security Holder for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Administrative Trustees;
(ii) each Holder may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable prior to the vote by the Holder of Securities executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders were stockholders of a Delaware corporation;
(iii) each meeting of the Holders shall be conducted by the Administrative Trustees or by such other Person that the Administrative Trustees may designate; and
(iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are then listed or trading, otherwise provides, the Administrative Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote.
ARTICLE XIII
REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Property Trustee that:
(a) The Property Trustee is a New York banking corporation with trust powers and authority under the laws of the State of New York to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee. The Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Property Trustee; and
(d) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any New York State or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration.
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) The Delaware Trustee is a duly organized Delaware banking corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and
(d) The Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XIV
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The Holders of the Capital Securities, the Debentures and the Capital Securities Guarantee (collectively, the "Registrable Securities") are entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrative Trustees at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders and the Property Trustee):
AFC Capital Trust I c/o Allmerica Financial Corporation 440 Lincoln Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: John F. Kelly, Administrative Trustee
(b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth below (or such other address as Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):
Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware 1201 Market Street, 9th Floor Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
(c) if given to the Property Trustee, at the Property Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Property Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):
The Chase Manhattan Bank Global Trust Services 450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor New York, New York 10001-2697
Attention: Global Trust Services
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice to the Trust and the Property Trustee):
Allmerica Financial Corporation 440 Lincoln Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: John F. Kelly, General Counsel
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed
address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to principles of conflict of laws, provided that the immunities and standard of care of the Property Trustee in connection with the administration of its trusts hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. The provisions of Section 3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code shall not apply to the Trust.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof.
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed.
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read
as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ John P. Kavanaugh ----------------------------------------------- John P. Kavanaugh, as Administrative Trustee /s/ John F. Kelly ----------------------------------------------- John F. Kelly, as Administrative Trustee /s/ Edward J. Parry III ----------------------------------------------- Edward J. Parry III, as Administrative Trustee |
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE
as Delaware Trustee
By:/s/ John J. Cashin ----------------------------------------------- Name: John J. Cashin Title: Senior Trust Officer |
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
as Property Trustee
By:/s/ Andrea Koster-Crain ----------------------------------------------- Name: Andrea Koster-Crain Title: Vice President |
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
as Sponsor
By:/s/ Edward J. Parry III
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
ANNEX I
TERMS OF
8.207% SERIES A/SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES
8.207% COMMON SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of February 3, 1997 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration or, if not defined in such Declaration, as defined in the Offering Memorandum referred to below in Section 2(c) of this Annex I):
(a) Distributions payable on each Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of 8.207% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security (the "Liquidation Amount"), such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the
Property Trustee. Except for Distributions which are deferred as provided in
Section 2(b), Distributions in arrears for more than one semi-annual period will
bear additional distributions thereon compounded semi-annually at the Coupon
Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture Issuer will be
required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term "Distributions", as used
herein, includes distributions of any such interest and Liquidated Damages
payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent
that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee
and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds on hand legally available
therefor.
(c) Except as provided above, Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs, which Distribution Dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Global Capital Securities will
be made as described under the heading "Description of the Capital Securities -- Form, Denomination, Book-Entry Procedures and Transfer" in the Offering Memorandum dated January 29, 1997, of the Debenture Issuer and the Trust relating to the Securities and the Debentures. Payments in respect of Capital Securities held in certificated form will be made by check mailed to the Holder entitled thereto. The relevant record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same as the record dates for the Capital Securities. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, will cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which Distributions are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
(d) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.
In the event of any termination of the Trust or the Holder of Common Securities otherwise gives notice of its election to liquidate the Trust pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(iii) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Administrative Trustees as expeditiously as the Administrative Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to the Holders of the Securities a Like Amount (as defined below) of the Debentures, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust legally available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the aggregate of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of the Securities, Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Debentures to be paid in accordance with their terms and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Debentures upon the liquidation of the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.
If, upon any such liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets on hand legally available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Securities shall
be paid on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have priority over the Common Securities.
(a) Upon the repayment of the Debentures, at maturity or upon early redemption (pursuant to a Special Event, as described below), the proceeds from such repayment shall be simultaneously applied by the Property Trustee (subject to the Property Trustee having received notice no later than 45 days prior to such repayment) to redeem the Securities at a redemption price equal to (i) in the case of the repayment of the Debentures at maturity, the Maturity Redemption Price (as defined below) and (ii) in the case of the optional redemption of the Debentures upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, the Special Event Redemption Price (as defined below). The Maturity Redemption Price and the Special Event Redemption Price are referred to collectively as the "Redemption Price". Holders will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice of such redemption.
(b) The "Maturity Redemption Price", with respect to a redemption of Securities, shall mean an amount equal to the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures as of the maturity date thereof.
(ii) In the case of an optional redemption, the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be determined as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below.
(c) If at any time a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each as defined below, and each a "Special Event") occurs, the Debenture Issuer shall have the right (subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture), upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, within the 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "90 Day Period"), and, simultaneous with such redemption, to cause a Like Amount of the Securities to be redeemed by the Trust at the Special Event Redemption Price on a Pro Rata basis.
"Tax Event" shall occur upon receipt by the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee of an opinion (a "Tax Event Opinion") of a nationally recognized tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after January 29, 1997, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or as a result of the issuance of the securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer (the "Exchange Securities") would be or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures or any of the Exchange Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not or upon the issuance of any
of the Exchange Securities would not be, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Issuer Trust of an opinion of counsel to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Capital Securities.
"Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to a redemption of Securities, a price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal of the Debentures to be redeemed or (ii) the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined in the Indenture), of the present values of the principal amount and premium payable with respect to the Debentures upon the maturity thereof, together with scheduled payments of interest thereon from the redemption date to and including the Debenture maturity date, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture), plus, in either case, accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon, if any, to the date of such redemption.
(d) On and from the date fixed by the Administrative Trustees for any distribution of Debentures and liquidation of the Trust: (i) the Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the Holder of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing Securities not held by the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in the Debentures until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for cancellation.
(e) The procedure with respect to redemptions or distributions of Debentures shall be as follows:
(i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of
the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this Section 4(e)(i), a Redemption/ Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing in the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing of either thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
(ii) If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, (which notice will be irrevocable), then (A) with respect to Capital Securities issued in book-entry form, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the maturity date or the date of redemption, as the case requires, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Capital Securities and will give the Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the relevant Clearing Agency Participants, and (B) with respect to Capital Securities issued in certificated form and Common Securities, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Property Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price to the Holders by check mailed to the address of the relevant Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the redemption date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required, if applicable, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, or on the redemption date, as applicable, Distributions will cease to accumulate on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Securities shall cease to be outstanding.
(iii) Payment of accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Redemption Date of the Securities will be subject to the rights of Holders of Securities on the close of business on a regular record date in respect of a Distribution Date occurring on or prior to such Redemption Date.
Neither the Administrative Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to
register or cause to be registered the transfer of (i) any Securities beginning
on the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or
(ii) any Securities selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any
Security being redeemed. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be
made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that if such Business Day falls on the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date fixed for redemption. If payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Sponsor as guarantor pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accumulate from the original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Capital Securities, the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if certificates evidencing Global Capital Securities have been issued or, if certificates evidencing Definitive Capital Securities have been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof.
(v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
(a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights.
In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of such Holders of the Capital Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.
If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer
to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on the due
date (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of
Capital Securities may pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Indenture institute a
proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on a Like Amount of Debentures (a "Direct Action")
on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection
with such Direct Action, the rights of the Common Securities Holder will be
subrogated to the rights of such Holder of Capital Securities to the extent of
any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Capital Securities in
such Direct Action. Except as provided in the second preceding sentence and in
Section 3.8(e) of the Declaration, the Holders of Capital Securities will not be
able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the
Debentures.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
Notwithstanding that Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
(a) Except as provided under Sections 6(b), 6(c), and 7 as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
(b) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common Securities. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities. In no event will the holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Company as the holder of the Common Securities. No resignation or removal of a Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration.
If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on the due date (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of Common Securities may institute a Direct Action for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on a Like Amount of Debentures on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with Direct Action, the rights of the Common Securities Holder will be subordinated
to the rights of such Holder of Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Common Securities in such Direct Action. Except as provided in the second preceding sentence, the Holders of Common Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a Holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date and (B) without the consent of each Holder of Capital Securities, the Declaration may not be amended to restrict the right of a Holder of Capital Securities to bring a Direct Action.
A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. In any such proration the Trust may make such adjustments as may be appropriate in order that only Securities in authorized denominations shall be redeemed (subject to the minimum block requirement of Section 9.2(m) of the Declaration).
Each Holder of Capital Securities and Common Securities, by the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, respectively, including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture.
The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities.
These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.
The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as may be appropriate) and the Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
[IF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY, INSERT: THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE "CLEARING AGENCY") OR A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE CLEARING AGENCY TO A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY TO THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
[IF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A RESTRICTED CAPITAL SECURITY, INSERT:
THE CAPITAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY") OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON- U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OF 1993, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE COMPANY PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT THE TRANSFEROR DELIVER TO THE TRUST A LETTER FROM THE TRANSFEREE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF ANNEX A TO THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM DATED JANUARY __, 1997. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.]
[IF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT: THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE
OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT
OF, U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IS AVAILABLE.]
THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA") OR (ii) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY IT IS NOT PROHIBITED BY EITHER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, OR EXEMPT FROM ANY SUCH PROHIBITION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY ALSO AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 1997 AMONG AFC CAPITAL TRUST I, ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN.
Certificate Number Aggregate Liquidation Amount
of Capital Securities: $300,000,000
CUSIP NO. __________
|
Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities
of
AFC Capital Trust I
8.207% Series __ Capital Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
AFC Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that ______________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of [$__________ in aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities of the Trust]/*/ [the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities of the Trust specified in Schedule A hereto.]/**/ representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the 8.207% Series __ Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of February 3, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder and to the benefits of the Capital Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.
* Insert in Definitive Capital Securities only.
** Insert in Global Capital Securities only.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of __________, ____.
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
Administrative Trustee
PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within- mentioned Declaration.
Dated:
--------, ----
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
as Property Trustee
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Authorized Officer
|
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of 8.207% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Except for Distributions which are deferred as provided below, Distributions in arrears for more than one semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded semi-annually at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term "Distributions", as used herein, includes such cash distributions and any such interest and such Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds on hand legally available therefor.
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Declaration and the Indenture, the Property Trustee may, at the direction of the Sponsor, at any time liquidate the Trust and cause the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or, simultaneous with any redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the Securities to be redeemed by the Trust.
The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security certificate to:
SCHEDULE A/*/
Liquidation
Amount of
Capital
Increase in Securities
Decrease in Liquidation Liquidation Remaining After
Amount of Capital Amount of Capital Such Decrease or Notation by
Securities Securities Increase Registration
- ------------------------- -------------------- ----------------- --------------
|
/*/ Append to Global Capital Securities only.
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities: 9,279
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
AFC Capital Trust I
8.207% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
AFC Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Allmerica Financial Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of 9,279 common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the 8.207% Common Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). Subject to the limitations in Section 9.1(c) of the Declaration (as defined below), the Common Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of February 3, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Sponsor is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder and to the benefits of the Common Securities Guarantee to
the extent provided therein.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ___ day of ____________, ____.
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
Administrative Trustee
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Common Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of 8.207% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Except for Distributions which are deferred as provided below, Distributions in arrears for more than one semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded semi-annually at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term "Distributions", as used herein, includes such cash distributions and any such interest and such Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds legally available therefor.
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Declaration and the Indenture, the
Property Trustee may, at the direction of the Sponsor, at any time liquidate the Trust and cause the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or, simultaneous with any redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the Securities to be redeemed by the Trust.
The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
THIS COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Edward J. Parry III
----------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT 3
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
INDENTURE
Dated as of February 3, 1997
The Chase Manhattan Bank
as Trustee
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES
TIE-SHEET
of provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with Indenture dated as of December
23, 1996 between Allmerica Financial Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as Trustee:
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION 310(a)(1) 6.09 (a)(2) 6.09 310(a)(3) N/A (a)(4) N/A 310(a)(5) 6.10, 6.11 310(b) N/A 310(c) 6.13 311(a) and (b) N/A 311(c) 4.01, 4.02(a) 312(a) 4.02 312(b) and (c) 4.04 313(a) 4.04 313(b)(1) 4.04 313(b)(2) 4.04 313(c) 4.04 313(d) 4.04 314(a) 4.03 314(b) N/A 314(c)(1) and (2) 6.07 314(c)(3) N/A 314(d) N/A 314(e) 6.07 314(f) N/A 315(a)(c) and (d) 6.01 315(b) 5.08 315(e) 5.09 316(a)(1) 5.07 316(a)(2) N/A 316(a) last sentence 2.09 316(b) 9.02 317(a) 5.05 317(b) 6.05 318(a) 13.08 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS/1/
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions................................... 1
Additional Interest...................................................... 1
Adjusted Treasury Rate................................................... 1
AFC Capital Trust........................................................ 2
Affiliate................................................................ 2
Authenticating Agent..................................................... 2
Bankruptcy Law........................................................... 2
Board of Directors....................................................... 2
Board Resolution......................................................... 2
Business Day............................................................. 2
Capital Securities....................................................... 2
Capital Securities Guarantee............................................. 3
Commission............................................................... 3
Common Securities........................................................ 3
Common Securities Guarantee.............................................. 3
Common Stock............................................................. 3
Company.................................................................. 3
Company Request.......................................................... 3
Company Order............................................................ 3
Comparable Treasury Issue................................................ 4
Comparable Treasury Price................................................ 4
Compounded Interest...................................................... 4
Custodian................................................................ 4
Declaration.............................................................. 4
Default.................................................................. 4
Deferred Interest........................................................ 4
Definitive Securities.................................................... 4
Depositary............................................................... 4
Dissolution Event........................................................ 5
Event of Default......................................................... 5
Exchange Act............................................................. 5
Exchange Offer........................................................... 5
Extended Interest Payment Period......................................... 5
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THIS TABLE OF CONTENTS SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED
TO BE A PART OF THE INDENTURE.
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Global Security........................................................ 5
Indebtedness for Money Borrowed........................................ 5
Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities.......................... 6
Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities................... 6
Indenture.............................................................. 6
Interest Payment Date.................................................. 6
Investment Company Event............................................... 6
Issue Date............................................................. 6
Junior Subordinated Payment............................................ 7
Liquidated Damages..................................................... 7
Maturity Date.......................................................... 7
Mortgage .............................................................. 7
Non Book-Entry Capital Securities...................................... 7
Officers .............................................................. 7
Officers' Certificate.................................................. 7
Opinion of Counsel..................................................... 7
Optional Redemption Price.............................................. 7
Other Debentures....................................................... 7
Other Guarantees....................................................... 7
outstanding............................................................ 7
Person................................................................. 8
Predecessor Security................................................... 8
Principal Office of the Trustee........................................ 8
Property Trustee....................................................... 8
Purchase Agreement..................................................... 8
Quotation Agent........................................................ 8
Redemption Price....................................................... 8
Reference Treasury Dealer.............................................. 9
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations................................... 9
Registration Rights Agreement.......................................... 9
Responsible Officer.................................................... 9
Restricted Security.................................................... 9
Rule 144A.............................................................. 9
Securities............................................................. 9
Securities Act......................................................... 9
Securityholder, holder of Securities................................... 9
Security Register...................................................... 10
Senior Indebtedness.................................................... 10
Series A Securities.................................................... 10
Series B Securities.................................................... 10
Special Event.......................................................... 10
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Special Event Redemption Price........................................... 10
Subsidiary............................................................... 10
Tax Event................................................................ 11
Trustee.................................................................. 11
Trust Indenture Act of 1939.............................................. 11
Trust Securities......................................................... 11
U.S. Government Obligations.............................................. 11
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally........................................... 11
SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.............................. 12
SECTION 2.03. Form and Payment.......................................... 12
SECTION 2.04. Legends................................................... 12
SECTION 2.05. Global Security........................................... 13
SECTION 2.06. Interest.................................................. 15
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange..................................... 15
SECTION 2.08. Replacement Securities.................................... 17
SECTION 2.09. [Reserved]................................................ 18
SECTION 2.10. Temporary Securities...................................... 18
SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.............................................. 18
SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest........................................ 18
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers............................................. 19
ARTICLE III
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest................ 20
SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc..................... 20
SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office........ 21
SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent.............................. 21
SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee.................................... 22
SECTION 3.06. [Reserved]................................................ 22
SECTION 3.07. Limitation on Dividends................................... 22
SECTION 3.08. Covenants as to AFC Capital Trust......................... 23
SECTION 3.09. Payment of Expenses....................................... 23
SECTION 3.10. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal....................... 24
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ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists................................... 24
SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists..................... 25
SECTION 4.03. Reports by the Company................................... 26
SECTION 4.04. Reports by the Trustee................................... 27
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default........................................ 27
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.......... 29
SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee............... 31
SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders........................... 31
SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee................................... 32
SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing....................... 32
SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by
Majority of Securityholders.................................... 33
SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults....................................... 34
SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs................................. 34
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.................... 35
SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc...................... 36
SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc....................... 37
SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer
Agents or Registrar May Own Securities.......................... 38
SECTION 6.05. Moneys to Be Held in Trust................................ 38
SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee...................... 38
SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence......................... 39
SECTION 6.08. Conflicting Interest of Trustee........................... 39
SECTION 6.09. Eligibility of Trustee.................................... 39
SECTION 6.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee......................... 40
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SECTION 6.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee........................... 41
SECTION 6.12. Succession by Merger, etc................................. 42
SECTION 6.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor............. 42
SECTION 6.14. Authenticating Agents..................................... 42
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders................................. 43
SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders..................... 44
SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners............................ 44
SECTION 7.04. Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding........ 45
SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.............. 45
ARTICLE VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings...................................... 46
SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee............................... 46
SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders............ 46
SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting................................. 47
SECTION 8.05. Regulations............................................... 47
SECTION 8.06. Voting.................................................... 48
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Securityholders........................ 49
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Securityholders........................... 50
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental
Indentures...................................................... 51
SECTION 9.04. Notation on Securities.................................... 52
SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be
Furnished Trustee............................................... 52
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ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms..... 52
SECTION 10.02. Successor Person Substituted............................. 53
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 11.01. Discharge of Indenture................................... 54
SECTION 11.02. Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations to Be
Held in Trust by Trustee........................................ 54
SECTION 11.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held........................ 55
SECTION 11.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys............................... 55
SECTION 11.05. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government
Obligations..................................................... 55
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.... 57
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01. Successors............................................... 57
SECTION 13.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation................... 57
SECTION 13.03. Surrender of Company Powers.............................. 57
SECTION 13.04. Addresses for Notices, etc............................... 58
SECTION 13.05. Governing Law............................................ 58
SECTION 13.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......... 58
SECTION 13.07. Business Days............................................ 59
SECTION 13.08. Trust Indenture Act to Control........................... 59
SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc......................... 59
SECTION 13.10. Execution in Counterparts................................ 59
SECTION 13.11. Separability............................................. 59
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SECTION 13.12. Assignment............................................... 59
SECTION 13.13. Acknowledgment of Rights................................. 60
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ARTICLE XIV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES -- SINKING FUND
SECTION 14.01. Special Event Redemption................................. 60
SECTION 14.02. [Reserved]............................................... 60
SECTION 14.03. No Sinking Fund.......................................... 61
SECTION 14.04. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities............ 61
SECTION 14.05. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.............. 62
ARTICLE XV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate................................. 62
SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness........................... 63
SECTION 15.03. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of
Securities......................................................... 63
SECTION 15.04. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy..................... 64
SECTION 15.05. Subrogation.............................................. 65
SECTION 15.06. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination...................... 66
SECTION 15.07. Notice by the Company.................................... 66
SECTION 15.08. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.... 67
SECTION 15.09. Subordination May Not Be Impaired........................ 68
SECTION 15.10. Article Applicable to Paying Agents...................... 68
ARTICLE XVI
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 16.01. Extension of Interest Payment Period..................... 68
SECTION 16.02. Notice of Extension...................................... 69
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EXHIBIT AA-1
Testimonium
Signatures
Acknowledgments
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of February 3, 1997, between Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the "Company"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee"),
W I T N E S S E T H :
In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of
this Indenture shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section
1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act,
shall (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context
otherwise requires) have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust
Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this
Indenture as originally executed. The following terms have the meanings given
to them in the Declaration: (i) Clearing Agency; (ii) Delaware Trustee; (iii)
Property Trustee; (iv) Administrative Trustees; (v) Direct Action; (vi) Purchase
Agreement; (vii) Distributions; (viii) Series A Capital Securities; and (ix)
Series B Capital Securities. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly
defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and the term "generally accepted
accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally
accepted at the time of any computation. The words "herein", "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole
and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. Headings are
used for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation. The
singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.06(c).
"Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately prior week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated "H.15 (519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to
constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Maturity Date (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Maturity Date, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Maturity Date shall be interpolated, and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date plus, in each case, (a) 1.02% if such redemption date occurs on or prior to February 3, 1998, and (b) .50% in all other cases.
"AFC Capital Trust" shall mean AFC Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust created for the purpose of issuing its undivided beneficial interests in connection with the issuance of Securities under this Indenture.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Authenticating Agent" shall mean any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.14.
"Bankruptcy Law" shall mean Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" shall mean either the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
"Board Resolution" shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" shall mean, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
otherwise with respect to, the Common Securities shall be made until the holders of the Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Distributions and the liquidation, redemption and other payments to which they are entitled. References to "Capital Securities" shall include collectively any Series A Capital Securities and Series B Capital Securities.
"Capital Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that the Company may enter into with The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of AFC Capital Trust and shall include a Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and a Series B Capital Securities Guarantee with respect to the Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities, respectively.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that the Company may enter into with any Person or Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Common Securities of AFC Capital Trust.
"Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company or any other class of stock resulting from changes or reclassifications of such Common Stock consisting solely of changes in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value.
"Company" shall mean Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall include its successors and assigns.
"Company Request" or " Company Order" shall mean a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice Chairman, a Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity date corresponding to the Maturity Date that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities with a maturity date corresponding to the Maturity Date. If no United States Treasury security has a maturity date which is within three months before or after the Maturity Date, the two most closely corresponding United States Treasury securities shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date pursuant to Section 14.01, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, (A) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
"Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 16.01.
"Custodian" shall mean any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of AFC Capital Trust, dated as of the Issue Date.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Deferred Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.01.
"Definitive Securities" shall mean those Securities issued in fully registered certificated form not otherwise in global form.
"Depositary" shall mean, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.05(d).
"Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section 5.01, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (i) by the Company to exchange Series B Securities for Series A Securities and to exchange a Series B Capital Securities Guarantee for a Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and (ii) by AFC Capital Trust to exchange Series B Capital Securities for Series A Capital Securities.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 16.01.
"Global Security" means, with respect to the Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
"Indebtedness for Money Borrowed" shall mean (i) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, the Company or which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor or otherwise including principal, premium, and interest (whether accruing before or after filing of any petition in bankruptcy or any similar proceedings by or against the Company and whether or not allowed as a claim in bankruptcy or similar proceedings) for (A) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, bonds, debentures, notes or other similar written instruments (C) any deferred obligation for the payment of the purchase price or conditional sale obligation of property or assets acquired other than in the ordinary course of business, (D) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction, (E) all obligations of the Company under "keep-well" agreements required by insurance regulators or (F) any obligation referred to in (A) through (E) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company and (ii) all indebtedness of the Company for obligations of the Company in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts (including future or options contracts) swap agreements, cap agreements, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and similar arrangements, whether outstanding on the date of execution of the Indenture or thereafter created, assumed or incurred.
"Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities" shall mean any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or hereafter
created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms is subordinated and ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the Securities (and any other Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities) in right of payment upon the happening of any dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization or similar events of the Company. The securing of any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Company, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness for Money Borrowed from constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities.
"Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities" shall mean Indebtedness for Money Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or hereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to the Securities in the right of payment upon the happening of any dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization or similar events of the Company. The securing of any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Company, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness for Money Borrowed from constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean this instrument as originally executed or, if amended as herein provided, as so amended.
"Interest Payment Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by AFC Capital Trust and the Company of an opinion of counsel to the Company experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change in law or regulation or a written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that AFC Capital Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Securities.
"Issue Date" means February 3, 1997.
"Junior Subordinated Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 15.03.
"Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Maturity Date" shall mean February 3, 2097.
"Mortgage" shall mean and include any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other similar encumbrance.
"Non Book-Entry Capital Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.
"Officers" shall mean any of the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
"Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by two Officers and delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" shall mean a written opinion, acceptable to the Trustee, of counsel, who may be an employee of the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.
"Optional Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 14.02.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by the Company (if any), in each case similar to the Trust.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees issued by the Company with respect to capital securities (if any) and issued to other trusts established by the Company (if any), in each case similar to the Trust.
The term "outstanding", when used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except
(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided that, if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article XIV provided or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and
(c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.08 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by bona fide holders in due course.
"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt and as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.08 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
"Principal Office of the Trustee", or other similar term, shall mean
the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which office on the date hereof is
located at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001-2697, Attention:
Global Trust Services.
"Property Trustee" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Declaration.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement dated January 29, 1997, among the Company, AFC Capital Trust and the initial purchasers named therein.
"Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.
"Redemption Price" means the Special Event Redemption Price or the Optional Redemption Price, as the context requires.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date pursuant to Section 14.01, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, the Trust and the Initial Purchasers named therein as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, shall mean any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or senior trust officer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Security" shall mean Securities that bear or are required to bear the Securities Act legends set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or under any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
"Securities" means, collectively, the Series A Securities and the Series B Securities.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Securityholder", "holder of Securities", or other similar terms, shall mean any person in whose name at the time a particular Security is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Security Register" shall mean (i) prior to a Dissolution Event, the
list of holders provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01, and (ii)
following a Dissolution Event, any security register maintained by a security
registrar for the Securities appointed by the Company following the execution of
a supplemental indenture providing for transfer procedures as provided for in
Section 2.07(a).
"Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all Indebtedness for Money Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter created, assumed, incurred, or guaranteed except Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities, and any deferrals, modifications, renewals, refinancings or extensions of such Senior Indebtedness.
"Series A Securities" means the Company's 8.207% Series A Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due February 3, 2027, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.
"Series B Securities" means the Company's Series B 8.207% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due February 3, 2027, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event, as the case may be.
"Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to any redemption of the Securities pursuant to Section 14.01 hereof, an amount in cash equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed, or (ii) the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent, of the present values of the principal amount of such Securities, together with scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to the Maturity Date, in each case discounted to the prepayment date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 350-day year of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, including Compounded Interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of such redemption.
"Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
"Tax Event" shall mean the receipt by AFC Capital Trust and the Company of an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after January 29, 1997, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) AFC Capital Trust is, or as a result of the issuance of Series B Securities would be, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Securities,
(ii) interest payable by the Company on the Securities is not, or upon the issuance of any of the Series B Securities would not be, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) AFC Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
"Trustee" shall mean the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. The term "Trustee" as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
"Trust Indenture Act of 1939" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.03.
"Trust Securities" shall mean the Capital Securities and the Common Securities, collectively.
"U.S. Government Obligations" shall mean securities that 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, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (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 U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally.
The Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities shall be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature in the manner set forth in Exhibit A. 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 an authorized officer of the Trustee. The signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. The form of Trustee's certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
The Trustee shall, upon a Company Order, authenticate for original issue up to, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities outstanding at any time may not exceed the sum of $309,279,000 aggregate principal amount of the Securities, except as provided in Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 14.05. The series of Securities to be initially issued hereunder shall be the Series A Securities.
SECTION 2.03. Form and Payment.
SECTION 2.04. Legends.
(a) Except as permitted by subsection (b) of this Section 2.04 or as otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable law, each Security shall bear the applicable legends relating to restrictions on transfer pursuant to the securities laws in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
(b) The Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate Series B Securities in exchange for Series A Securities accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Securities shall not bear the legends required by subsection (a) above, in each case unless the holder of such Series A Securities is either (1) a broker-dealer who purchased such Series A Securities directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series A Securities or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company.
SECTION 2.05. Global Security.
(a) In connection with a Dissolution Event,
(i) if any Capital Securities are held in book-entry form, the related
Definitive Securities shall be presented to the Trustee (if an arrangement
with the Depositary has been maintained) by the Property Trustee in
exchange for one or more Global Securities (as may be required pursuant to
Section 2.07) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Securities, to be registered in the
name of the Depositary, or its nominee, and delivered by the Trustee to the
Depositary for crediting to the accounts of its participants pursuant to
the instructions of the Administrative Trustees; the Company upon any such
presentation shall execute one or more Global Securities in such aggregate
principal amount and deliver the same to the Trustee for authentication and
delivery in accordance with this Indenture; and payments on the Securities
issued as a Global Security will be made to the Depositary; and
(ii) if any Capital Securities are held in certificated form, the related Definitive Securities may be presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee and any Capital Security certificate which represents Capital Securities other than Capital Securities in book-entry form ("Non Book-Entry Capital Securities") will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in Securities presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Non Book-Entry Capital Securities until such Capital Security certificates are presented to the Security Registrar for transfer or reissuance, at which time such Cap ital Security certificates will be canceled and a Security, registered in the name of the holder of the Capital Security certificate or the transferee of the holder of such Capital Security certificate, as the case may be, with an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Security certificate canceled, will be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture. Upon the issuance of such Securities, Securities with an equivalent aggregate principal amount that were presented by the Property Trustee to the Trustee will be deemed to have been canceled.
(c) The Global Securities may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(d) If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or the Depositary has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon written notice from the Company, will authenticate and make available for delivery the Definitive Securities, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security. If there is an Event of Default, the Depositary shall have the right to exchange the Global Securities for Definitive Securities. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security. In the event of such an Event of Default or such a determination, the Company shall execute, and subject to Section 2.07, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and make available for delivery the Definitive Securities, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Definitive Securities, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Definitive Securities issued in exchange for the Global Security shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Definitive Securities are so registered.
(e) In the event the Securities are issued as Global Securities with the Depositary: (i) the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as the authorized representative of the Securityholders; (ii) the rights of the Securityholders shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Securityholders and the Depositary and/or direct participants of the Depositary; (iii) the Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depositary and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants; and (iv) the direct participants of the Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depositary,
and the Depositary may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.
SECTION 2.06. Interest.
(a) Each Security will bear interest at the rate of 8.207% per annum (the "Coupon Rate") from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Issue Date, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and at the Coupon Rate on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, compounded semi-annually, payable (subject to the provisions of Article XVI) semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date") commencing on August 15, 1997, to the Person in whose name such Security or any predecessor Security is registered, at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the first day of the month in which the relevant Interest Payment Date falls.
(b) Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and, for any period of less than a full calendar month, the actual number of days elapsed in such month. In the event that any Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
(c) During such time as the Property Trustee is the holder of any Securities, the Company shall pay any additional amounts on the Securities as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by the AFC Capital Trust on the outstanding Securities shall not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which the AFC Capital Trust has become subject as a result of a Tax Event ("Additional Interest").
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.
maintained for the purpose pursuant to Section 3.02, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security registrar duly executed, by the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
All Definitive Securities and Global Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities or Global Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Definitive Securities or Global Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
No service charge shall be made to a holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer or exchange of the Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption or any notice of selection of Securities for redemption under Article XIV hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or (ii) register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
The Company shall present the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate certifying the following:
(A) upon issuance of the Series B Securities, the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Offer have been consummated; and
(B) the principal amount of Series A Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented by a Global Security and the principal amount of Series A Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented by Definitive Securities, the name of each holder of such Definitive Securities, the principal amount properly tendered in the Exchange Offer by each such holder and the name and address to which Definitive Securities for Series B Securities shall be registered and sent for each such holder.
The Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers' Certificate, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (x) to the effect that the Series B Securities have been registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (y) with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(p) of the Registration Rights Agreement and (iii) a Company Order, shall authenticate (A) a Global Security for Series B Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Securities rep resented by a Global Security indicated in such Officers' Certificate as having been properly tendered and (B) Definitive Securities representing Series B Securities registered in the names of, and in the principal amounts indicated in, such Officers' Certificate.
If the principal amount of the Global Security for the Series B Securities is less than the principal amount of the Global Security for the Series A Securities, the Trustee shall make an endorsement on such Global Security for Series A Securities indicating a reduction in the principal amount represented thereby.
The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities for Series B Securities to the holders thereof as indicated in such Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.08. Replacement Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee's requirements for replacements of Securities are met. An indemnity bond must be supplied by the holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any agent thereof or any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company or the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.
Every replacement Security is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Securities duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 2.09. [Reserved]
SECTION 2.10. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved, or provided by any combination thereof, or in any other manner permitted by the rules and regulations of any applicable securities exchange, all as determined by the officers executing such definitive Securities. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange therefor the same aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall retain or dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its normal practices (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) unless the Company directs them to be returned to it. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the holder on the relevant regular record date; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:
(a) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following clause (b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers.
ARTICLE III
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the holders of the Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein. Except as provided in Section 2.03, each installment of interest on the Securities may be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holder of the Security entitled thereto as they appear in the Security Register. The Company further covenants to pay any and all amounts including, without limitation, Liquidated Damages, if any, on the dates and in the manner required under the Registration Rights Agreement.
SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.
So long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, any such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the Principal Office of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.
In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the Securities may be presented for payment, registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.
SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent.
(a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.04,
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Securities;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium or interest on the Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that it will at any time during the continuance of any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by it as such paying agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium or interest so becoming due and will notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when the same shall become due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Trustee or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section 3.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject to Sections 11.03 and 11.04 and Article XV.
SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year in each year, commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the date hereof, so long as Securities are outstanding hereunder, an Officers' Certificate, one of the signers of which shall be the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer of the Company stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof.
SECTION 3.06. [Reserved]
SECTION 3.07. Limitation on Dividends.
The Company will not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Company's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock)
or (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay
or repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company (including any Other
Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Company of any securities of any Subsidiary of the Company (including Other
Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to
the Securities (other than (a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or
options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, capital
stock of the Company; (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the
implementation of a stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under
any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto; (c) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee; (d) as a
direct result of, and only to the extent required in order to avoid the issuance
of fractional shares of capital stock following, a reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series
of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's
capital stock or pursuant to an acquisition in which fractional shares of the
Company's capital stock would otherwise be issued; (e) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged; and (f) purchases of Common Stock related to the
issuance of Common Stock or rights under any benefit plans for directors,
officers, agents or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any of the
Company's dividend reinvestment or director, officer, agent or employee stock
purchase plans, if at such time (1) an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing or, would occur upon the taking of any action described in clauses
(i) through (iii) above, (2) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Company has actual knowledge that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse of
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default and (b) in respect of which
the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (3) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (4) the Company shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 (or notice of a valid extension of an interest payment period in accordance with the terms of any Other Debentures) and any such extension shall not have been rescinded or such Extended Interest Payment Period, or any extension thereof, or extension period with respect to Other Debentures, shall be continuing.
SECTION 3.08. Covenants as to AFC Capital Trust.
SECTION 3.09. Payment of Expenses.
In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities to the AFC Capital Trust and in connection with the sale of the Trust Securities by the AFC Capital Trust, the Company, in its capacity as borrower with respect to the Securities, shall:
(a) pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities, including commissions to the initial purchasers payable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, fees and expenses in connection with any exchange offer or other action to be taken pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and compensation of the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.06;
(b) pay all costs and expenses of the AFC Capital Trust (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization of the AFC Capital Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Trust Securities (including commissions to the initial purchasers in connection therewith), the fees and expenses of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the AFC Capital Trust, including without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s),
duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of assets of the AFC Capital Trust;
(c) be primarily and fully liable for any indemnification obligations arising with respect to the Declaration;
(d) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to the AFC Capital Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the AFC Capital Trust; and
(e) pay all other fees, expenses, debts and obligations (other than payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Trust Securities) related to AFC Capital Trust.
SECTION 3.10. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.
Upon termination of this Indenture or the removal or resignation of
the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company shall pay to the Trustee all
amounts accrued and owing to the date of such termination, removal or
resignation. Upon termination of the Declaration or the removal or resignation
of the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, pursuant to
Section 5.7 of the Declaration, the Company shall pay to the Delaware Trustee or
the Property Trustee, as the case may be, all amounts accrued and owing to the
date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) on a semi-annual basis on each regular record date for the Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of such record date; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company, of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,
except that, no such lists need be furnished so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Security registrar.
SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of the
Securities (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Securities registrar (if
so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as
provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) In case three or more holders of Securities (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Securities or with holders of all Securities with respect to their rights under this Indenture and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:
(1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, or
(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of all Securities, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and
opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(c) Each and every holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the
Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders
of Securities in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this
Section 4.02, regardless of the source from which such information was derived,
and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any
material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).
SECTION 4.03. Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within
15 days after the date on which the Company is required to file the same with
the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents
and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as said
Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the
Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file
information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to
file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and
regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be
required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security
listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed
from time to time in such rules and regulations.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by said Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail to all holders of Securities, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 4.03 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
(d) 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).
(e) So long as is required for an offer or sale of the Securities to qualify for an exemption under Rule 144A under the Securities Act, the Company shall, upon request, provide the information required by clause (d)(4) thereunder to each Holder and to each beneficial owner and prospective purchaser of Securities identified by any holder of Restricted Securities, unless such information is furnished to the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
SECTION 4.04. Reports by the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders such reports
concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided
pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trustee shall, within 90 days after each December 31 following the date of this
Indenture, commencing December 31, 1997, deliver to Securityholders a brief
report, dated as of such December 31, which complies with the provisions of such
Section 313(a).
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default.
One or more of the following events of default shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security or any Other Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration of maturity or otherwise; or
(c) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(e) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts as they become due.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all Securities to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the holders of the outstanding Securities), and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.
The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Securities shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities and the
principal of and premium, if any, on any and all Securities which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest specified in the Securities to the date of such payment or deposit) and (B) such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Securities which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, then, in every such case, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.
The Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days (provided, however, the valid extension of an interest payment period in accordance with Section 16.01 hereof shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose), or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Securities as and when the same shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity of the Securities or upon redemption or by declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all such Securities for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Securities are held by AFC Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by AFC Capital Trust or a trustee in respect thereof) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents,
attorneys and counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder other than through its negligence or bad faith.
In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on the Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on the Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Securities under Title 11, United States Code, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, 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 pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Securities in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders 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 Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities, or the production thereof on any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Securities, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Securities parties to any such proceedings.
SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection applicable to the Securities and reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith;
Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;
Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference of priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
Fourth: To the Company.
SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders.
No holder of any Security shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity satisfactory to it as it may reasonably require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding, it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security with every other taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holder of Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on such Security, on or after the same shall have become due and payable, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
The Company and the Trustee acknowledge that pursuant to the Declaration, the holders of Capital Securities are entitled, in the circumstances and subject to the limitations set forth therein, to commence a Direct Action with respect to any Event of Default under this Indenture and the Securities.
SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee.
In case an Event of Default occurs with respect to Securities and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.
Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.08, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Securities, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.
SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults.
SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken 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 and expenses, 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 5.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
With respect to the holders of the Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) 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 their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred
(1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity against such risk reasonably satisfactory to it is not assured to it.
SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:
(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, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein may be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care;
(h) the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Indenture;
(i) no permissive power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed as a duty; and
(j) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent or Securities registrar hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall also be afforded to such Paying Agent and Securities registrar.
SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities (except in the
certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall
be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the Authenticating
Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and
the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge
of any default or Event of Default unless (i) a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee assigned to its Principal Office shall have actual knowledge thereof or
(ii) the Company, any Securityholder or the holder of any Other Debenture shall
have given the Trustee written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.04.
SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Securities.
The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Security registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Security registrar.
SECTION 6.05. Moneys to Be Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
The Company, as borrower, covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities.
Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(d) or Section 5.01(e), the expenses (including 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.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.
SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence.
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by, an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture in reliance thereon.
SECTION 6.08. Conflicting Interest of Trustee.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
SECTION 6.09. Eligibility of Trustee.
The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.09 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.
In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.09, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the holders of the Securities at their ad dresses as they shall appear on the Security register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur --
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within 10 days after such nomination the Company objects thereto or if no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted appointment within 30 days after such removal, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.10 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 6.11.
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee
an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring trustee shall become effective and such
successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but,
nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee,
the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it
pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee
so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
trustee all property and money held by such retiring trustee thereunder. Upon
request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all
instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to
such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act
shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected
by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.06.
No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this
Section 6.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall
be qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08 and eligible under the
provisions of Section 6.09.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 6.11, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the holders of Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 6.12. Succession by Merger, etc.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such 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 trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which the Securities or this Indenture elsewhere provides that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
SECTION 6.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
SECTION 6.14. Authenticating Agents.
as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.14 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.14, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.14, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Securityholders as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.
The Company, as borrower, agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any
number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders.
SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register or by a certificate of the Security registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.06.
SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Security registrar may deem the person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.06) interest on such
Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Security registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Security.
SECTION 7.04. Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.
SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security (or any Security issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor), subject to Section 7.01, the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its principal office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Security). Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.
ARTICLE VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings.
A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Securities under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee.
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Securities Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.
In case at any time the Company pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place in said Borough of Manhattan for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.02.
SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a person shall be (a) a holder of one or more Securities or (b) a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more Securities. The only persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
SECTION 8.05. Regulations.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.
holders of Securities, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.02, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities which shall constitute a quorum.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
SECTION 8.06. Voting.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Securities shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.02. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the
Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Securityholders.
The Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time amend the Indenture, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article X hereof;
(b) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(d) to provide for the issuance under this Indenture of Securities in coupon form (including Securities registrable as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such Securities with the Securities issued hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
(e) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities;
(g) to make provision for transfer procedures, certification, book- entry provisions, the form of restricted securities legends, if any, to be placed on Securities, minimum denominations and all other matters required pursuant to Section 2.07 or otherwise necessary, desirable or appropriate in connection with the issuance of Securities to holders of Capital Securities in the event of a distribution of Securities by AFC Capital Trust following a Dissolution Event;
(h) to qualify or maintain qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or
(i) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any supplemental indenture to effect such amendment, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any amendment to the Indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent
of the holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding
any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Securityholders.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture affecting such amendment, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as it may be in effect from time to time. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities shall thereafter
be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.04. Notation on Securities.
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture affecting such series pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX.
The Trustee may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof.
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(1) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires, by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company as an entirety (A) shall be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly
existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and (B) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company's obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on all the Securities and the performance and observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary which became the obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with or as a result of such transaction as having been incurred at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(3) the Company or such Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
This Section and Section 10.02 shall only apply to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company as transferor or lessor of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any Person.
SECTION 10.02. Successor Person Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, disposition or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 10.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 10.01), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and the coupons and may be dissolved and liquidated.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 11.01. Discharge of Indenture.
When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.08) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds sufficient to pay on the Maturity Date or upon redemption all of the Securities (other than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced as provided in Section 2.08) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to the Maturity Date or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.04, or (2) paid to any State or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.07, 2.08, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 6.06, 6.10 and 11.04 hereof, which shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.06, 6.10 and 11.04 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by any Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities.
SECTION 11.02. Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust by Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.05 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Securities for the payment of which such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.05 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the holders of outstanding Securities.
SECTION 11.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.
Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon written demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 11.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.
Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on Company Request; and the holder of any of the Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.
SECTION 11.05. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations.
The Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its obligations with respect to the Securities on the 91st day after the conditions set forth below have been satisfied:
(1) The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee or the Defeasance Agent (as defined below) as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the Securities (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Defeasance Agent, if any, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding Securities on the dates such installments of principal, interest or premium are due;
(2) if the Securities are then listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the exercise of the option under this Section 11.05 would not cause such Securities to be delisted from such exchange until the Securities have been discharged;
(3) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit; and
(4) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that holders of the Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the exercise of the option under this Section 11.05 and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised, and such opinion shall be based on a statute so providing or be accompanied by a private letter ruling to that effect received from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a revenue ruling pertaining to a comparable form of transaction to that effect published by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
"Discharged" means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments provided to it acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of holders of Securities to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (1) above, payment of the principal of and the interest and premium, if any, on the Securities when such payments are due; (B) the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities under Sections 2.02, 2.07, 2.08, 3.02, 3.04, 6.10 and 11.04; and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.
"Defeasance Agent" means another financial institution which is eligible to act as Trustee hereunder and which assumes all of the obligations of the Trustee necessary to enable the Trustee to act under this Article. In the event such a Defeasance Agent is appointed pursuant to this Section, the following conditions shall apply:
(1) The Trustee shall have approval rights over the document appointing such Defeasance Agent and the document setting forth such Defeasance Agent's rights and responsibilities;
(2) The Defeasance Agent shall provide verification to the Trustee
acknowledging receipt of sufficient money and/or U. S. Government
Obligations to meet the applicable conditions set forth in this
Section 11.05.
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person to the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person to the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01. Successors.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 13.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
SECTION 13.03. Surrender of Company Powers.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, as the case may be, and as to any successor Person.
SECTION 13.04. Addresses for Notices, etc.
Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of
Securities on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage
prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed
(until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee for the purpose)
to the Company, 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any
Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of
the Trustee, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001-2697, Attention: Global
Trust Services (unless another address is provided by the Trustee to the Company
for the purpose).
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail to his or her address shown on the register kept by the Securities registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
SECTION 13.05. Governing Law.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of said State, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
SECTION 13.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (except pursuant to Section 3.05) shall include
(1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in
such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of
such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to
enable him to express an in formed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in
the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 13.07. Business Days.
In any case where the date of payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities will not be a Business Day, the payment of such principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on the date of payment and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
SECTION 13.08. Trust Indenture Act to Control.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The table of contents and the titles 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 13.10. Execution in Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 13.11. Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities, but this Indenture and the Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 13.12. Assignment.
SECTION 13.13. Acknowledgment of Rights.
The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Securities held by AFC Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, if the Property Trustee of such Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of the Securities held as the assets of AFC Capital Trust any holder of Capital Securities may institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Property Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when due, the Company acknowledges that a holder of Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Securities.
ARTICLE XIV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES -- SINKING FUND
SECTION 14.01. Special Event Redemption.
SECTION 14.02. [Reserved]
SECTION 14.03. No Sinking Fund.
The Securities are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
SECTION 14.04. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities.
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Securities in accordance with their terms, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of Securities so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Security Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price at which the Securities are to be redeemed (or the method by which such redemption price is to be calculated), the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of the Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
By 10:00 a.m. New York time on the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.
The Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 days prior to the redemption date as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Securities or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000, except as otherwise set forth in the applicable form of Security) to be redeemed.
SECTION 14.05. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 14.04, the Securities or portions of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights of holders of Securities on the close of business on a regular record date in respect of an Interest Payment Date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the Redemption Price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights of holders of Securities on the close of business on a regular record date in respect of an Interest Payment Date occurring on or prior to the redemption date).
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
ARTICLE XV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Securities issued hereunder likewise covenants and agrees, that the Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.
No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.
Unless Section 15.03 shall be applicable, in the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been or would be permitted upon notice or the passage of time to be accelerated because of a default, then, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist and such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, then no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, properties or securities shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption payments) of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities by the Company or any Subsidiary, in each case unless and until all amounts due or to become due on such Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash or other consideration satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or a holder of any Security when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.02, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing, within 90 days of such payment.
SECTION 15.03. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of Securities.
In the event that any Securities are declared due and payable before their Stated Maturity, then no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, properties or securities shall be made by the Company on account of the principal (including redemption payments) of, or premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities by the Company or any Subsidiary, until all amounts due on or in respect of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time of such acceleration shall have been paid in full to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in cash or other consideration satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall have been made for such payment.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 15.03, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing, within 90 days of such payment.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 15.04 would be applicable.
SECTION 15.04. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
In the case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling of assets or liabilities of the Company or other similar judicial proceeding relative to the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings (each such event, if any herein sometimes referred to as a "Proceeding"), then the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on such Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (including any payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other debt of the Company (including any series of the Securities) subordinated to the payment of the Securities, such payment or distribution being hereinafter referred to as a "Junior Subordinated Payment"), on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest) on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities by the Company or any Subsidiary, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any Junior Subordinated Payment, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities in any such Proceeding.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Trustee or the Holders of any Security shall have received any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any Junior Subordinated Payment, before all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness are paid in full or payment thereof is provided for in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, have been made actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, then in such event such payment or distribution shall be paid over or delivered forthwith to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Person making payment or distribution of assets of the Company for application to the payment of all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed (so long as the effect of any exclusion employing this definition is not to cause the Securities to be treated in any Proceeding as a part of the same class of claims as the Senior Indebtedness or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to the Senior Indebtedness) to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Securities to the payment of Senior Indebtedness that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article X of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.03 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, comply with the conditions stated in Article X of this Indenture.
SECTION 15.05. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness to the extent provided herein or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article (equally and ratably with the holders of all Indebtedness of the Company which by its express terms is subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness and is entitled to like rights of subrogation by reason of payments or distributions made to holders of such Senior Indebtedness) to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are
intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under the Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
SECTION 15.06. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 15.07. Notice by the Company.
same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, 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 of the Company (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. 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 such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such 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 XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, 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 XV.
SECTION 15.08. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any
other Person money or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.
Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06.
SECTION 15.09. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or other wise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
SECTION 15.10. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any paying agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and then be acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such paying agent within its meanings as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such paying agent were named in this article in addition to or in place of the Trustee.
ARTICLE XVI
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 16.01. Extension of Interest Payment Period.
SECTION 16.02. Notice of Extension.
(a) If the Property Trustee is the only registered holder of the Securities at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall give written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Trustee of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period five Business Days before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Trust Securities issued by AFC Capital Trust are payable, or (ii) the date AFC Capital Trust is required to give notice of the record date, or the date such Distributions are payable, to any national securities exchange or to holders of the Capital Securities issued by AFC Capital Trust, but in any event at least five Business Days before such record date.
(b) If the Property Trustee is not the only holder of the Securities at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall give the holders of the Securities and the Trustee written notice of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period at least 10 Business Days before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) the date the Company is required to give notice of the record or payment date of such interest payment to any national securities exchange.
(c) The semi-annual period in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 16.02 shall be counted as one of the 10 semi-annual periods permitted in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under Section 16.01.
The Chase Manhattan Bank hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Edward J. Parry
-------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Trustee
By /s/ Andrea Koster-Crain ------------------------- Name: Andrea Koster-Crain Title: Vice President |
(FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY)
[IF THE SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT: - THIS SECURITY IS A
GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A 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 NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC") TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS
SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE COMPANY. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE
EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR (ii)
THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY BY IT IS NOT PROHIBITED BY EITHER
SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986,
AS AMENDED, OR EXEMPT FROM ANY SUCH PROHIBITION.
[IF THE SECURITY IS A REGULATION S SECURITY INSERT: THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE
UNITED STATES OR TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS UNLESS
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IS AVAILABLE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 1997 AMONG AFC CAPITAL TRUST I, ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
8.207% SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
DUE February 3, 2027
Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ______________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________ Dollars on February 3, 2027 (the "Maturity Date"), unless previously redeemed, and to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount hereof from February 3, 1997, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi- annually (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 1997 at the rate of 8.207% per annum until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and at the same rate per annum on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum compounded semi-annually. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and, for any period less than a full calendar month, the actual number of days elapsed in such month. In the event that any date on which the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on this Security is payable is not a Business Day, then the payment payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), with the same force and effect as if made on such date. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Company will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to this Security.
The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the first day of the month in which the relevant interest payment date falls. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the holders of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in- fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now out standing or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
This Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.
The provisions of this Security are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Title
Attest:
(FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
(FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY)
This Security is one of the Securities of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the "Securities"), specified in the Indenture, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 23, 1996 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities.
Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, the Company shall have the right at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event, to redeem this Security in whole (but not in part) at the Special Event Redemption Price. "Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to any redemption of the Securities following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed, or (ii) the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent, of the present values of the principal amount of such Securities, together with scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to the Maturity Date, in each case discounted to the prepayment date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 350-day year of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, including Compounded Interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of such redemption.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Securities by the Company shall be subject to the receipt by the Company of any required regulatory approval.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Securities may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the holders of the Securities, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities or a default in respect of any covenant or provision under which the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of Securities then outstanding. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and of any Security issued in exchange hereford or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
The Company has agreed that it will not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of any securities or any Subsidiary of the Company (including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to the Securities (other than (a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of, Common Stock of the Company; (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto; (c) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee; (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock following, a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or pursuant to an acquisition in which the fractional shares of the Company's capital stock would otherwise be issued; (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the exchange or conversion of such capital stock or the security being exchanged or converted and (f) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common Stock or rights under any benefit plan for directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of the Company's dividend reinvestment or director, officer, agent or employee stock purchase plans) if at such time (1) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would occur upon the taking of any action specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above, (2) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company has actual knowledge that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (3) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (4) the Company shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period under the Indenture (or notice of a valid extension of an interest payment period in accordance with the terms of any Other Debentures) and any such extension shall not have been rescinded or such Extended Interest Payment Period, or any extension thereof, or extension period with respect to Other Debentures, shall be continuing.
The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000.00 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Security is transferable by the holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the City and State of New York accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security, the Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and the registrar may deem and treat the holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and (subject to the Indenture) interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.
All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding Agreement between the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Edward J. Parry III
---------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
By /s/ Edward J. Parry III --------------------------- Name: Edward J. Parry III Administrative Trustee |
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
By: MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
By /s/ Steven J. Goulart ------------------------ Name: Steven J. Goulart Title: Managing Director |
EXHIBIT 4
SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Allmerica Financial Corporation
Dated as of February 3, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION...........................................................2
SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation................................................2
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT....................................................................6
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application..............................................6
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities................................................6
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee...........................6
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee......................7
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............................7
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.....................................................7
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice......................................................7
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.........................................................8
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.............................................................8
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.......................................................................8
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.......................10
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee.........................................................12
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..................................................12
SECTION 4.1. Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility............................12
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee............................................................13
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE..............................................................................14
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee....................................................................14
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand..................................................14
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.....................................................14
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders............................................................15
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.........................................................16
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation..................................................................16
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations......................................................16
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ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION.............................................17
SECTION 6.1. Limitation of Transactions...................................................17
SECTION 6.2. Ranking......................................................................18
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION..........................................................................18
SECTION 7.1. Termination..................................................................18
ARTICLE VIII COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..................................................................18
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................19
SECTION 9.1. Exculpation..................................................................19
SECTION 9.2. Indemnification..............................................................20
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................20
SECTION 10.1. Successors and Assigns.......................................................20
SECTION 10.2. Amendments...................................................................20
SECTION 10.3. Notices......................................................................20
SECTION 10.4. Exchange Offer...............................................................21
SECTION 10.5. Benefit......................................................................22
SECTION 10.6. Governing Law................................................................22
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as of February 3, 1997, is executed and delivered by Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corpora tion, as trustee (the "Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Series A Capital Securities (as defined herein) of AFC Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of February 3, 1997, among the trustees of the Issuer, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 300,000 capital securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $300,000,000, such capital securities being designated the 8.207% Series A Capital Securities (collectively the "Series A Capital Securities") and, in connection with an Ex change Offer (as defined in the Declaration) has agreed to execute and deliver the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee (as defined in the Declaration) for the benefit of holders of the Series B Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Series A Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined below). The Guarantor agrees to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical terms to this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the holders of the Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
In this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) Terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise spec ified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(c) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
ARTICLE XII
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by
Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties
shall control.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Within 90 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act provided that such compliance certificate shall be delivered on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Guarantor's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series A Capital Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Series A Capital Securiti es Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all defaults actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a Holder, or a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE XIII
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exer cising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Cap ital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and succession of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was negli gent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities relat ing to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall require the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities Guarantee 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, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital Securiti es Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request, shall be entitled to receive and may conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording, refiling or regis tration thereof).
(v) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have
the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have pro vided to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investiga tion into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evi denced by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instrutions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities, (ii)
may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(xii) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary hereunder.
(b) No provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation, or which would expose the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to liability, financial or otherwise. No permissive power or authority available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
The recitals contained in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XIV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a
corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE XV
GUARANTEE
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Series A Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Series A Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Series A Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Series A Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Series A Capital Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred;
(g) the consummation of the Exchange Offer; or
(h) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor with respect to the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Series A Capital Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE XVI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, the Guarantor
shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Guarantor's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make
any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor (including any Other Debentures)
that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the Guarantor of any securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in shares of or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantee, (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock
following, a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange
or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for
another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or pursuant to an
acquisition in which fractional shares of the Guarantor's capital stock would
otherwise be issued, (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, and (f)
purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights
under any benefit plan for directors, officers, agents or employees of the
Guarantor or its subsidiaries or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment or
director, officer, agent or employee stock purchase plans) if at such time (i)
an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) shall have occurred and be
continuing, or would occur upon the taking of any action specified in clauses
(i) through (iii) above, (ii) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture) and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken
reasonable steps to cure, (iii) if such Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any
obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or (iv) the
Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right
to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture
or with respect to certain other debentures of the Guarantor and any such
extension shall be continuing.
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to the same extent and in the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were set forth herein in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term "Securities" appearing in such Article XV, (ii) pari passu with the Debentures, the Other Debentures and with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any Other Guarantee (as defined herein) and any Other Common Securities Guarantee and any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
ARTICLE XVII
TERMINATION
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of all Series A Capital Securities, (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer, the full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Series A Capital Securities or (iii) upon exchange of all the Series A Capital Securities for the Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer and the execution and delivery of the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid under the Series A Capital Securities or under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XVIII
COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor covenants and agrees to pay to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee from time to time, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Guarantor and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Guarantor will pay or reimburse the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disburse-
ments and advances incurred or made by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Capital Securities Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Guarantor also covenants to indemnify the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this guarantee, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Article VIII to compensate and indemnify the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Series A Capital Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Series A Capital Securities.
The provisions of this Article shall survive the termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee or the earlier resignation or removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE XIX
INDEMNIFICATION
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 9.2 shall survive the termination of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XX
MISCELLANEOUS
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders then outstanding.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined). The provisions of the Declaration with respect to consents to amendments thereof (whether at a meeting or otherwise) shall apply to the giving of such approval.
All notices provided for in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustee at the Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
AFC Capital Trust I
c/o Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(b) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders and the Issuer):
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Global Trust Services
450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Global Trust Services
Telecopy: (212) 946-8161
(c) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Series A Capital Securities and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(d) If given to any Holder of Series A Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
In the event an Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) becomes effective and the Issuer issues any Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer, the Guarantor will enter into a new capital securities guarantee agree-
ment, in substantially the same form as this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, with respect to the Series B Capital Securities.
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Series A Capital Securities.
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION, as
Guarantor
By:/s/ Edward J. Parry III -------------------------------------- Name: Edward J. Parry III Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:/s/ Andrea Koster-Crair -------------------------------------- Name: Andrea Koster-Crair Title: |
EXHIBIT 5
COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Allmerica Financial Corporation
Dated as of February 3, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Page
----
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION..................................... 3
ARTICLE II GUARANTEE......................................................... 4
SECTION 2.1. Guarantee.................................................. 4
SECTION 2.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand................................ 4
SECTION 2.3. Obligations Not Affected................................... 4
SECTION 2.4. Rights of Holders.......................................... 5
SECTION 2.5. Guarantee of Payment....................................... 5
SECTION 2.6. Subrogation................................................ 5
SECTION 2.7. Independent Obligations.................................... 6
ARTICLE III LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION........................ 6
SECTION 3.1. Limitation of Transactions................................. 6
SECTION 3.2. Ranking.................................................... 7
ARTICLE IV TERMINATION....................................................... 7
SECTION 4.1. Termination................................................ 7
ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS...................................................... 8
SECTION 5.1. Successors and Assigns..................................... 8
SECTION 5.2. Amendments................................................. 8
SECTION 5.3. Notices.................................................... 8
SECTION 5.4. Benefit.................................................... 9
SECTION 5.5. Governing Law.............................................. 9
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COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), dated as of February 3, 1997, is executed and delivered by Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Common Securities (as defined herein) of AFC Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of February 3, 1997, among the Trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 9,279 common securities designated the 8.207% Common Securities (the "Common Securities"), having an aggregate stated liquidation amount of $9,279,000;
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Common Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth in this Common Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the Common Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee agreement (the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee") for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration) and upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (as defined in the Declaration) will execute and deliver a guarantee agreement (the "Series B Capital Securities Guarantee") for the benefit of the holders of the Series B Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration), each in substantially identical terms to this Common Securities Guarantee, except that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of holders of Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Common Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Common Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
In this Common Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
SECTION 1.1. Capitalized terms used in this Common Securities Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Article I;
SECTION 1.2. Terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Common Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this Common Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Common Securities Guarantee;
SECTION 1.3. a term defined anywhere in this Common Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
SECTION 1.4. all references to "the Common Securities Guarantee" or "this Common Securities Guarantee" are to this Common Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
SECTION 1.5. all references in this Common Securities Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Common Securities Guarantee unless otherwise specified; and
SECTION 1.6. a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Common Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are required to be paid on such Common Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor at such time, with respect to any Common Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination and liquidation of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Common Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Common Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments with respect to the Common Securities shall be made until holders of Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Guarantee Payments to which they are entitled under the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Common Securities.
"Issuer" means AFC Capital Trust I.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the Guarantor with respect to common securities (if any) similar to the Common Securities issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
ARTICLE II
GUARANTEE
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Common Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Common Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Common Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Common Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Common Securities (other than an
extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Common Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Common Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 2.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor with respect to the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Common Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer or any other Person.
This Common Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Common Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Common Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Common Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Common Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 2.3 hereof.
ARTICLE III
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
So long as any Common Securities remain outstanding, the Guarantor shall
not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's
capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment
of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Guarantor (including any Other Debentures) that rank pari
passu with or junior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Guarantor of any securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor (including Other
Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in shares of or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder's rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the
Guarantee, (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent required in order
to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock following, a
reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange or conversion
of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for another class or
series of the Guarantor's capital stock or pursuant to an acquisition in which
fractional shares of the Guarantor's capital stock would otherwise be issued,
(e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, and (f) purchases of common
stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights under any benefit plan
for directors, officers, agents or employees of the Guarantor or its
subsidiaries or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment or director,
officer, agent or employee stock purchase plans) if at such time (i) an Event of
Default (as defined in the Indenture) shall have occurred and be continuing, or
would occur upon the taking of any action specified in clauses (i) through (iii)
above, (ii) there shall have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has
actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time,
or both, would be an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) and (b) in
respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken reason able steps to cure,
(iii) if such Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, the Guarantor shall
be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee or (iv) the Guarantor shall have given notice of
its election of the exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period
pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture or with respect to certain other
debentures of the Guarantor and any such extension shall be continuing.
This Common Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of
the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to
Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to the same extent and in the
same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant
to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of Article XV of the
Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Common
Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were set forth herein in full and
(y) such obligations were substituted for the term "Securities" appearing in
such Article XV, (ii) pari passu with the Debentures and with the most senior
preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with
any Other Guarantee and any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the
Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of
the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
This Common Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon full payment of
the Redemption Price of all Common Securities, (ii) upon the distribution of the
Debentures to all the Holders or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable
in accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Common Securities Guarantee will continue to
be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
Holder must restore payment of any sums paid under the Common Securities or
under this Common Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Common Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders then outstanding.
Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Common Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of at least a majority in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Common Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders apply to the giving of such approval.
All notices provided for in this Common Securities Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustee at the Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders):
AFC Capital Trust I
c/o Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(b) if given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders):
Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
This Common Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Common Securities and is not separately transferable from the Common Securities.
THIS COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
THIS COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:/s/ Edward J. Parry III
-----------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT 6
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated February 3, 1997
among
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
and
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
as Initial Purchasers
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
of the Exchange Capital Securities which will have terms identical to the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
exchange or exchanges, and (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the company in connection with any Registration Statement.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Trust shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Series A Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Series A Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Series A Securities exchanged;
(v) notify each Holder, in such letter of transmittal or otherwise, that any Series A Security not tendered by such Holder in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest or accumulate distributions, as the case may be, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the Private Exchange, the Company and the Trust, as the case requires, shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Series A Securities or portions thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the applicable Trustee for cancellation all Series A Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and the Trust; and
(iii) issue, and cause the applicable Trustee under the Indenture, the Declaration or the Guarantee, as applicable, to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, new Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Series A Subordinated Debentures or equal in liquidation amount to the liquidation amount to the Series A Capital Securities (together with the guarantee thereof) as are surrendered by such Holder.
Distributions on each Exchange Capital Security and interest on each Exchange Debenture and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last date on which a Distribution or interest was paid on the Series A Capital Security or the Series A Subordinated Debenture surrendered in exchange therefore or, if no Distribution or interest has been paid on such Series A Capital Security or Series A Subordinated Debenture, from the Issue Date. To the extent not prohibited by any law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company and the Trust shall use their best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above, and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to exchange such Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain customary representations in connection therewith, including, in the case of any Holder of Series A Capital Securities and/or Series A Subordinated Debentures, representations that (i) it is not an affiliate of the Trust or the Company, (ii) the Exchange Securities to be received by it were acquired in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) at the time of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Capital Securities. The Company and the Trust shall inform the Initial Purchasers, after consultation with the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private Exchange Securities and Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company and the Trust shall have no further obligation to register the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities) pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement.
Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if either of them voluntarily take any action which is not in compliance with the terms of Section 2(b), Sections 3(i) or 3(t), and that would result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless such action is required by applicable law.
(ii) (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date required by Section 2(a), in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or Section 2(b), in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement or (B) notwithstanding that the Company and the Trust have consummated an Exchange Offer, the Company and the Trust are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date required by Section 2(b), then, commencing on the 31st day after the applicable required filing date, additional interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or
(iii) either (A) the Trust has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities for all Series A Capital Securities or the Company has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities Guarantees or Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Series A Capital Securities Guarantees or Series A Subordinated Debentures validly tendered, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective or (B) if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to expiration of the 144(k) Period (other than after such time as all Series A Capital Securities have been disposed of thereunder or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities within the meaning of this Agreement), then additional interest shall accrue on the principal amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum commencing on (x) the 46th day after such effective date,
in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective in the case of (B) above; provided, that if, in the case of (B) above, such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective as a result of a Material Event, neither such additional distributions shall accumulate nor such additional interest shall accrue so long as such Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective within 60 days of the date notice of such Material Event was received by holders of Capital Securities, Guarantees and Junior Subordinated Debentures; and provided further, that if such Shelf Registration Statement does not again become effective within such 60-day period, additional interest shall accrue and additional distributions shall accumulate, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum, commencing on the 61st day after such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the additional interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, nor the additional distributions rate on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities may exceed 0.25% per annum, provided, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Capital Securities, Exchange Capital Securities Guarantees and Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Series A Capital Securities, Series A Capital Securities Guarantees and Series A Subordinated Debentures tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) above), or, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of clause (iii)(B) above), additional interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions on the liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue or accumulate, as the case may be.
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof within the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company and the Trust, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include (or incorporated by reference) all financial statements required by the SEC to be included therein; and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof; provided, however, that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company and the Trust shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed. The Company and the Trust shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing of such document if the Majority Holders or such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented, if so determined by the Company or the Trust or requested by the SEC, by any required prospectus supplement and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
selling Holders thereof described in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, at least three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holder that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each Preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts
to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable
state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions by the time
the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC
as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities shall reasonably request in writing in advance
of such date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts and things
which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder
and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction
of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Company and the Trust shall not be required to (i) qualify as
a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such
service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;
(e) in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2) Participating Broker-Dealers from whom the Company or the Trust has received prior written notice that they will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, or such Participating Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly and promptly confirm such notice in writing (i) when a
Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any
request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information after the Registration Statement has become effective,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement
or the qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange
Securities to be offered sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer in any
jurisdiction described in paragraph 3(d) hereof or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) [intentionally omitted], and (v)
of the happening of any event or the failure of any event to occur or
the discovery of any facts or otherwise (each a "Material Event"),
during the Effectiveness Period which makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which causes such Registration Statement or Prospectus to
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (vi) the Company and the Trust's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture and the Declaration) and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by
Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its best
efforts, following the resolution or satisfaction of any Material
Event, to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein
by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) [Reserved];
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Capital Securities and the Series A Capital Securities (and if the Trust has made a distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the Holders of the Series A Capital Securities, the Series A Subordinated Debentures or the Exchange Subordinated Debentures) as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) as are customary in underwritten offerings and take all such other appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, if requested by (x) any Initial Purchaser, in the case where an Initial Purchaser holds Series A Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution and (y) other Holders of Series A Securities covered thereby: (i) make such representations and warranties to Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with respect to the business of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
underwritten offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested;
(ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Trust and
updates thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter) in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters (if
any) and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Registrable Securities being sold, addressed to each selling Holder and
the underwriters (if any) covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as
may be reasonably requested by such underwriters (it being agreed that
the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to customary
qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and
updates thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
managing underwriters from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company and the Trust (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company and the
Trust or of any business acquired by the Company and the Trust for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to
be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters
of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection
with underwritten offerings and such other matters as reasonably
requested by such underwriters in accordance with, and subject to,
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in
Section 4 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section (including, without limitation, such
underwriters and selling Holders). The above shall be done at each
closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent
required thereunder;
(o) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and make generally available to its securityholders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12- month periods;
(p) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, if requested by a Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company and the Trust, as the case requires, has duly authorized,
executed and delivered the Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities, and (ii) each of the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Trust, as the case requires, enforceable against the Company or the Trust, as the case requires, in accordance with its respective terms (in each case, with customary exceptions);
(q) if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Company or the Trust, as applicable (or to such other Person as directed by the Company or the Trust, respectively), in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company or the Trust, as applicable, shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Securities delivered by such Holders that such Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securi ties, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied;
(r) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD;
(s) use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby;
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer";
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Trust agree to deliver to the Initial Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, if requested by any such Initial Purchasers or such other representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers or such other representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer Registration Statements and such other matters as may be reasonably requested (it being agreed that
the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions), (ii) an officers' certificate containing certifications substantially similar to those set forth in section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement and such additional certifications as are customarily delivered in a public offering of debt securities and (iii) as well as upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a comfort letter, in each case, in customary form if permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 or 76.
The Company or the Trust may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the company or the Trust, as applicable, such information regarding such seller as may be required by the securities laws or regulations to be included in a Registration Statement. The Company or the Trust may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. The Company shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.
In the case of (i) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2)
Participating Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company and the Trust that
they will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell
Exchange Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company or the Trust of the happening
of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or
3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the
Company and the Trust that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed,
and, if so directed by the Company and the Trust, such Holder will deliver to
the Company or the Trust (at the Company's or the Trust's expense, as the case
requires) all copies in such Holder's possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, current at
the time of receipt of such notice of suspension or disposition. If the Company
or the Trust shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of
Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company and the Trust shall use their best efforts
to file and have declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable
following the satisfaction or resolution of the Material Event an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and shall extend the period during
which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this
Agreement by the number of days in the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Company and the Trust
shall have made available to the
Holders (x) copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y) the Advice.
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue state ment of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), covering Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer, or any underwriter (except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense in not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 4(b);
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the Company or the Trust by such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any underwriter with respect to such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and (ii) the Company and the Trust shall not be liable to any such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, any underwriter or controlling person, with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, liability claim, damage or expense of any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, any underwriter or controlling person results from the fact that such Holder, any underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer sold Series A Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder, underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Holder, underwriter, Participating Broker- Dealer or controlling person results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the preliminary Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus. Any amounts advanced by the Company or the Trust to an indemnified party pursuant to this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Company or the Trust if it shall be finally determined by such a court in a judgment not subject to appeal or final review that such indemnified party was not entitled to indemnification by the Company or the Trust.
(d) Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, enclosing a copy of all papers properly
served on such indemnified party, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party
shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have
under this Section 4, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by
such failure. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of such action. If an indemnifying party go elects within a reasonable
time after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, severally or jointly
with any other indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the
defense of such action with counsel chosen by it and reasonably acceptable to
the indemnified parties defendant in such action, provided, however, that if (i)
representation of such indemnified party by the same counsel would present a
conflict of interest or (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and any such indemnified party reasonably determines that there are likely
to be legal defenses available to such indemnified party which are inconsistent
or in conflict with those available to such indemnifying party, then in the case
of clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4(c) such indemnifying party and counsel
for each indemnifying party or parties shall not be entitled to assume such
defense, if an indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of
such action as a result of the proviso to the preceding sentence, counsel for
such indemnifying party and counsel for each indemnified party or parties shall
be entitled to conduct the defense of such indemnified party or parties, if an
indemnifying party assumes the defense of such action, in accordance with and as
permitted by the provisions of this paragraph, such indemnifying parties shall
not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties
incurred thereafter in connection with such action. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to local counsel), separate from its own counsel, for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional written release in form and substance
satisfactory to the indemnified parties of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and
(ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 4(c), if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) above, such
Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as each of the Company or the Trust.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
By: MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Title: Managing Director
EXHIBIT 7
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
$300,000,000
in Aggregate Liquidation Amount
8.207% Series A Capital Securities
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
World Financial Center, North Tower
New York, New York 10281-1209
Ladies and Gentlemen:
AFC Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust organized under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. (Sections 3801 et seq.)) and Allmerica Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company" and, together with the Trust, the "Offerors"), confirm their agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated (collectively, "Merrill Lynch") and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (together, the "Initial Purchasers", which term shall also include any initial purchaser substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11 hereof), with respect to the issue and sale by the Trust and the purchase by the Initial Purchasers, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number set forth on Schedule I of 300,000 8.207% Series A Capital Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per security) representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Series A Capital Securities").
The Series A Capital Securities will be guaranteed by the Company, to the extent set forth in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below), with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation or redemption and otherwise pursuant to the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Series A Guarantee Agreement", and such guarantee being referred to herein as the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee") to be dated as of the Closing Time (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Guarantee Trustee").
The entire proceeds from the sale of the Series A Capital Securities will be com bined with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities") and will be used by the Trust to purchase $309,278,000 in aggregate principal amount of 8.207% Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due February 3, 2027 (the "Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures") issued by the Company. The Series A Capital Securities and the Common Securities will be issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, to be dated as of the Closing Time (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Sponsor, John F. Kelly, Edward J. Parry III and John P. Kavanaugh as administrative trustees (the "Administrative Trustees"), The Chase Manhattan Bank, as property trustee (the "Property Trustee"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank (Delaware), as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") and, together with the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, the "Trustees"). The Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Time (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). The Series A Capital Securities issued in book-entry form will be issued to Cede & Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") pursuant to a letter agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Time (the "DTC Agreement"), among the Trust, the Property Trustee and DTC.
The Series A Capital Securities, the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures are collectively referred to herein as the "Series A Securities". Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the respective meanings specified in the Offering Memorandum.
The Series A Capital Securities will be subject to the registration rights set forth in a registration rights agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), to be executed on and dated as of the Closing Time substantially in the form of Exhibit A. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Trust and the Company will agree, among other things, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( the "Commission") (i) a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1993, as
amended (the "1933 Act") relating to the 8.207% Series B Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per security) (the "Series B Capital Securities"), the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee (the "Series B Capital Securities Guarantee") of the Company pursuant to the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Series B Guarantee Agreement"), and the 8.207% Series B Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes due February 3, 2027 (the "Series B Junior Subordinated Debentures" and, collectively with the Series B Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, the "Series B Securities"), to be offered in exchange for the Series A Securities (such offer to exchange being referred to herein as the "Exchange Offer") and/or (ii) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act (the "Shelf Registration Statement") relating to the resale by certain holders of the Series A Securities.
The Series A Securities and the Series B Securities are jointly referred to as the "Securities"; the Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities are jointly referred to as the "Capital Securities"; the Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Series B Junior Subordinated Debentures are jointly referred to as the "Junior Subordinated Debentures"; and the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee are jointly referred to as the "Capital Securities Guarantees." The Indenture, the Declaration, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement and this Agreement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Operative Documents."
The Offerors understand that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Series A Capital Securities (as guaranteed by the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee) on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and agree that the Initial Purchaser may resell in accordance with applicable law, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Capital Securities to purchasers ("Subsequent Purchasers") at any time after the date of this Agreement. The Series A Capital Securities are to be offered and sold through the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the 1933 Act, in reliance upon exemptions therefrom. Pursuant to the terms of the Series A Capital Securities, investors that acquire Series A Capital Securities may only resell or otherwise transfer such Capital Securities if such Capital Securities are hereafter registered under the 1933 Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act is available (including the exemption afforded by Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") or Regulation S ("Regulation S") of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations")).
The Offerors have prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a preliminary offering memorandum dated January 24, 1997 (the "Preliminary Offering Memorandum") and will deliver to each Initial Purchaser, as soon as practicable, but not later than February 3, 1997, copies of an offering memorandum for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of purchases of, or offering of, the Series A Capital Securities (the "Final Offering Memorandum" and, together with the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum, the "Offering Memorandums"). "Offering Memorandum" means, with respect to any date or time referred to in this Agreement, the most recent offering memorandum (or any amendment or supplement to such document), including exhibits thereto and any documents incorporated therein by reference, which has been prepared and delivered by the Offerors to the Initial Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of purchases of, or offering of, the Series A Capital Securities.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is "contained," "included," "specified" or "stated" in the Offering Memorandums (including other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which are incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandums; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Offering Memorandums shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") which is incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandums.
(a) Each of the Trust and the Company represents and warrants to each Initial Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:
(i) The Offerors have not, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, and will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Series A Capital Securities in a manner that would require the Series A Capital Securities to be registered under the 1933 Act.
(ii) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum as of their respective dates does not, and in the case of the Final Offering Memorandum as of the Closing Time will not, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Offerors by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Offering Memorandums.
(iii) Each of the Capital Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the 1933 Act.
(iv) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandums at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together with the other information in the Offering Memorandums, at the date of each respective Offering Memorandum and, in the case of the Final Offering Memorandum, at the Closing Time, do not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(v) Price Waterhouse LLP, who are reporting upon the audited consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules 1 through 6 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandums, are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(vi) The consolidated financial statements, together with the related schedules and notes thereto included in the Offering Memorandums, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; said consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as noted therein. The supporting schedules, if any, included in the Offering Memorandums present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data included in the Offering Memorandums present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the consolidated audited financial statements included in the Offering Memorandums except as noted therein. The pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information included in the Offering Memorandums present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements, have been properly compiled on the pro forma bases described therein, and, in the opinion of the Company, the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the proposed transactions referred to therein.
(vii) The statutory consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, from which certain ratios and other statistical data contained in the Offering Memorandums have been derived, have for each relevant period been
prepared in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the insurance division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and such accounting practices have been applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein.
(viii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum, except as otherwise described or stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Trust or the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends, there has been no dividend of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(ix) The Company is a corporation organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority under such laws to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandums, to enter into and perform its obligations under each of the Operative Documents, to hold the Common Securities issued by the Trust, to issue and to deliver the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Capital Securities Guarantees; and the Company is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property of a nature, or transacts business of a type, that would make such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(x) First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company ("FAFLIC"), SMA Financial Corp., Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company ("AFLIAC"), Allmerica Property & Casualty Companies ("Allmerica P&C"), The Hanover Insurance Company, Citizens Corporation ("Citizens"), Citizens Insurance Company of America and any other "significant subsidiary" of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) are each a "Subsidiary" and, collectively, the "Subsidiaries" of the Company. FAFLIC is duly organized and is validly existing as a stock life insurance company in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with corporate power and authority under such laws to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandums. Each other Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation with corporate power and authority under such laws to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business; and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property of a nature, or transacts business of a type, that would make such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except for Allmerica P&C and Citizens, which are owned 40.5% and 17.5%, respectively, by the public, and except for any shares required by law to be owned by directors and as of the date hereof, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary will be owned by the Company, directly or through one or more Subsidiaries, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim equity or encumbrance of any kind.
(xi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company as of September 30, 1996 is as set forth in the Offering Memorandums under the caption "Capitalization".
(xii) The Agreement and the DTC Agreement have been duly authorized and, at the Closing Time will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trust, as applicable;
(xiii) The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing and in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act with the power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandums and to enter into and perform its obligations under such of the Operative Documents to which it is a party and the Series A Capital Securities; the Trust is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust; the Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the Offering Memorandum; the Trust is and will under current law be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation; and the Trust is and will be treated as a subsidiary of the Company pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles.
(xiv) The Declaration has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the
Administrative Trustees (as defined in the Declaration) and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Declaration by the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration)) will, at the Closing Time, be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Administrative Trustees, enforceable against the Company and the Administrative Trustees in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Declaration will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums.
(xv) The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Company against payment therefor as described in the Offering Memorandums, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and nonassessable undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums; the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and, at the Closing Time, all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of the Trust will be directly or indirectly owned by the Company, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity and all action required to be taken for the authorization, issue and sale of such Common Securities by the Trust will have been validly and sufficiently taken.
(xvi) At the Closing Time, the Series A Capital Securities will have been duly authorized by the Declaration and, when and issued and delivered by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, will be entitled to the benefits of the Declaration and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums; the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and as of the Closing Time, the Series B Capital Securities will have been duly authorized by the Trust and, in the event of the consummation of the Exchange Offer, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and nonassessable undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) holders of Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(xvii) Each of the Series A Guarantee Agreement and the Series B Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, the Series A Guarantee Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Series A Guarantee Agreement by Chase Manhattan Bank, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee) will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and each of the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series A Guarantee Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums. In the event the Exchange Offer is consummated, the Series B Guarantee Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Series B Guarantee Agreement by Chase Manhattan Bank, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee) will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Series B Guarantee Agreement will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
(xviii) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Debenture Trustee) will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums. In the event the Exchange Offer is consummated, the Indenture will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
(xix) The issuance and delivery of the Junior Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, the Series A Junior
Subordinated Debentures will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as described in the Offering Memorandums, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Series B Junior Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed by the Company and authenticated in the manner provided in the Indenture, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, in each case enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Junior Subordinated Debentures will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums; and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture.
(xx) At the Closing Time, the Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Trust and the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto) will constitute the valid and binding obligation of each of the Trust and the Company enforceable against each of the Trust and the Company in accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandums.
(xxi) The Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company.
(xxii) Each of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust is an officer of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and deliver the Declaration.
(xxiii) Except for separate investment accounts of FAFLIC and AFLIAC, neither the Trust nor the Company nor any of the Company's other subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will
be, and neither the Company nor the Trust nor any of the Company's other subsidiaries is directly or indirectly controlled by, or acting on behalf of any person which is, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xxiv) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or the Trust is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties may be subject, except for such defaults that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise. The execution and delivery of the Operative Documents, the issuance and delivery of the Series A Capital Securities, the Series A Guarantee, the Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Trust and do not and will not result in any violation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary nor any violation of the Declaration or Trust Certificate, and do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Trust or any Subsidiary under (A) any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Trust or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties may be subject (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or of the Trust) or (B) any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, the Trust or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties.
(xxv) Neither the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities by the Trust to the Initial Purchasers or the issuance and sale of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Company, the extension of the Series A Guarantee by the Company, the issuance and sale of the Subordinated Debentures by the Company to the Trust, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture and the Series A Guarantee by the Offerors, nor the consummation by the Offerors with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body (including any insurance regulatory body), administrative agency or other governmental
body, agency or official (except such as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the Trust Indenture Act and compliance with the securities, Blue Sky laws and state insurance laws of various jurisdictions), except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or other order or make such registration or filing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs and business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(xxvi) To the best knowledge of the company, no labor problem exists with its employees or with employees of the Subsidiaries or the Trust, or is imminent that could adversely affect the Trust, or the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(xxvii) Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Trust, the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries that is required to be disclosed in the Offering Memorandums or that could have a material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, and the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or that could materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of any Operative Documents or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Trust, or the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or which affect any of their respective properties or assets, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of the Trust, or the Company or any Subsidiary, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, or the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(xxviii) The Trust, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries each has good and marketable title to all properties and assets described in the Offering Memorandums as owned by it, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as (A) are described in the Offering Memorandums or (B) are not materially significant in relation to the business of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Trust, the Company or any Subsidiary holds properties, are described in the Offering Memorandums, are in full force and effect; and neither the Trust, the Company nor any Subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Trust, the Company or any
Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of such corporation to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
(xxix) The Trust, the Company and its Subsidiaries each owns, possesses or has obtained all material governmental licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and neither the Trust, the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to revocation or modification of any such licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals or authorization.
(xxx) Each of the Subsidiaries which is engaged in the insurance business, (the "Insurance Subsidiaries"), is duly licensed or authorized to conduct its insurance business under the insurance laws of each jurisdiction in which it conducts such business so as to require such licensing or authorization, except where the failure to be so licensed or authorized would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; all such licenses or authorizations are in full force and effect and neither the Trust, the Company nor any Insurance Subsidiary has received any notice of any event, inquiry, investigation or proceeding that would reasonably be expected to result in the suspension, revocation or limitation of any such licenses or authorizations or otherwise impose any limitation on the conduct of the business of the Trust, the Company or any Insurance Subsidiary, except any such suspension, revocation or limitation which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and to the best of the Trust's, the Company's and the Insurance Subsidiaries' knowledge, there is no sustainable basis for any such suspension, revocation or limitation; each of the Insurance Subsidiaries is in compliance with, and conducts its businesses in conformity with, all applicable insurance laws and regulations, except where the failure to so comply or conform would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; and the Company has disclosed to you all pending significant examinations, and all significant examinations which have been completed and filed since October 1995, by any governmental authority having jurisdiction to regulate the insurance operations of any Insurance Subsidiary.
(xxxi) The Trust, the Company and the Subsidiaries each owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent licenses, trademarks,
service marks and trade names necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted, and neither the Trust, the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks or trade names that in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could materially adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(xxxii) To the best of the Company's knowledge, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandums, no change in any insurance laws or regulations of Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire or Delaware is pending or has been introduced which could reasonably be expected to be adopted and, if adopted, could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with all such changes, a material adverse effect upon the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust agrees to sell to each Initial Purchaser and each Initial Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Trust, at a price of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security, the number of Series A Capital Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Initial Purchaser, plus any additional Series A Capital Securities which such Initial Purchaser may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 hereof.
(b) Deliveries of certificates for the respective accounts of the Initial Purchasers for the Series A Capital Securities shall be made at the office of Merrill Lynch in New York, and payment of the purchase price for the Series A Capital Securities shall be made by Merrill Lynch on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers, to the Trust by wire transfer of immediately available funds contemporaneous with closing at such place as shall be agreed upon by Merrill Lynch and the Offerors, at 10:00 A.M. on February 3, 1997 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by Merrill Lynch and the Offerors (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing Time").
Certificates for the Series A Capital Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Initial Purchasers may request in writing at least one business day before the Closing Time. It is understood that each Initial Purchaser has authorized Merrill Lynch, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Series A Capital Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Initial Purchasers, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Series A Capital Securities, to be purchased by any Initial Purchaser whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Initial Purchaser from its obligations hereunder. The certificates representing the Series A Capital Securities which are not resold to institutional "accredited investors" shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. pursuant to the DTC Agreement and shall be made available for examination and packaging by the Initial Purchasers in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. on the last business day prior to the Closing Time.
(c) As compensation to the Initial Purchasers for their commitment hereunder and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital Securities will be used to purchase Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures of the Company, the Company hereby agrees to pay at the Closing Time to Merrill Lynch in immediately available funds, for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, $10 per Series A Capital Security to be delivered by the Trust hereunder at the Closing Time.
(d) Each Initial Purchaser represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, the Company that it is a Qualified Institutional Buyer (as defined in
Section 6(a)(i)) and an Institutional Accredited Investor (as defined in Section
6(a)(i)).
The Offerors covenant with each Initial Purchaser as follows:
(a) The Offerors, as promptly as possible, will furnish to each Initial Purchaser, without charge, such number of copies of the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein as such Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.
(b) The Offerors will immediately notify each Initial Purchaser, and confirm such notice in writing, of (x) any filing made by the Offerors of information relating to the offering of the Series A Capital Securities to the Initial Purchasers with any securities exchange or any other regulatory body in the United States or any other jurisdiction, and (y) prior to the completion of the placement of the Series A Capital Securities by the Initial Purchasers as evidenced by a notice in writing from the Initial Purchasers to the Offerors, any material changes in or affecting the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, which (i) make any statement in the Offering Memorandums false or misleading or (ii) are not disclosed in the Offering Memorandums. In such event or if during such time any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, its counsel or counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to amend or supplement Final Offering Memorandum in order that the Final Offering Memorandum not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, the Company will forthwith amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum by preparing and furnishing to each Initial Purchaser an amendment or amendments of, or a supplement or supplements to, the Final Offering Memorandum (in form and substance satisfactory in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers) so that, as so amended or supplemented, the Final Offering Memorandum will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading.
(c) The Offerors will advise each Initial Purchaser promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandums and will not effect such amendment or supplement without the consent of the Initial
Purchasers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Neither the consent of the Initial Purchasers, nor the Initial Purchasers' delivery of any such amendment or supplement, shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof.
(d) The Offerors shall take all reasonable action necessary to enable Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc. ("S&P"), and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") to provide their respective credit ratings of the Capital Securities.
(e) The Offerors will cooperate with the Initial Purchaser and use reasonable efforts to permit the Series A Capital Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(f) The Trust will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Series A Capital Securities; and the Company will use the proceeds received by it from the sale of the Series A Junior Subordinated Debentures, in the manners specified in the Offering Memorandums under "Use of Proceeds".
(g) Prior to 30 days after the date hereof, neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer or agree to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, Capital Securities, any security convertible into exchangeable or exercisable for Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures or any debt securities substantially similar (including provisions with respect to the deferral of interest) to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or any equity security substantially similar to the Capital Securities (except for the Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement); provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any disposal of the Junior Subordinated Debentures following any liquidation of the Trust.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and any filing of the Offering Memorandums (including
financial statements and any schedules or exhibits and any document incorporated
therein by reference) and of each amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Initial Purchasers of this Agreement,
the Operative Documents and such other documents as may be required in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities,
(iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Series
A Capital Securities, the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series A
Junior Subordinated Debentures to the Initial Purchasers, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v)
rating agency fees, and (vi) the fees and expenses of any trustee appointed
under any of the Operative Documents, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for such trustees in connection with the Operative Documents.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 10(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Initial Purchasers.
The obligations of the Initial Purchasers hereunder are subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Offerors contained in
Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any Trustee of the Trust, officer of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof,
to the performance by the Offerors of their obligations hereunder, and to the
following further conditions:
(c) Opinion of Counsel for The Chase Manhattan Bank. At the Closing Time, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Seward & Kissel, counsel to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under the Declaration, as Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee Agreement, and as Debenture Trustee under the Indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers.
(d) Opinion of Special Tax Counsel for the Offerors. At the Closing Time, the Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins, special tax counsel to the Offerors, that (i) the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as indebtedness of the Company, (ii) the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation and (iii) although the discussion set forth in the Offering Memorandums under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" does not purport to discuss all possible United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Series A Capital Securities, such discussion constitutes, in all material respects, a fair and accurate summary of the United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Series A Capital Securities under current law. Such opinion may be conditioned on, among other things, the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, financial and other information, covenants and representations set forth in certificates of officers of the Company and other documents deemed necessary for such opinion.
(e) Opinion of Counsel for Initial Purchasers. At the Closing Time, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to the incorporation and legal existence of the Company, the Series A Capital Securities, the Indenture, the Series A Guarantee Agreement, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Offering Memorandums and other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may require. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of Trustees of the Trust, officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials; provided that such certificates have been delivered to the Initial Purchasers.
(f) Certificates. At the Closing Time there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandums, any material adverse change, or any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, except that the announcement of or execution of an agreement relating to the terms and conditions of the Acquisition (as defined in the Offering Memorandums) will not be considered a material adverse change for purposes of this subsection (f), and the Initial Purchasers shall have received a certificate of the President or Chief Executive Officer, and the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Vice- President of the Company, and a certificate of an Administrative Trustee of the Trust, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandums, (i) there has been no such material adverse change or development or event, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof were true
and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, and (iii) the Offerors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time.
(g) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from Price Waterhouse LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Initial Purchasers with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Offering Memorandums.
(h) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from Price Waterhouse LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (h) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.
(i) Maintenance of Rating. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of any other condition set forth in this Section 5, at the Closing Time, the Capital Securities shall be rated at least "a2" by Moody's Investor's Service, Inc. and BBB+ by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, and the Trust shall have delivered to the Initial Purchasers a letter dated the Closing Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, confirming that the Series A Capital Securities have such ratings; and between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Time, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Series A Capital Securities or any of the Company's other debt securities by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, and no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any Capital Securities or any of the Company's other debt securities.
(j) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time, counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have been furnished with the Registration Rights Agreement, executed by the Company and the Trust, and such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Series A Capital Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties of the Offerors, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Offerors in connection with the issuance and sale of the Series A Capital Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers.
(k) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Initial Purchasers by notice to the Offerors
at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, and such termination shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as Provided in Section
4 and except that Sections 7 and 9 shall survive any such termination and remain
in full force and effect.
(a) Offer and Sale Procedures. Each of the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors hereby establish and agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Series A Securities:
(b) Covenants of the Offerors. Each of the Offerors, jointly and severally, covenants with each Initial Purchaser as follows:
Series A Capital Securities by the Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to make reasonable inquiries into the business of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries. The Offerors also agree to provide answers to each prospective Subsequent Purchaser of Series A Capital Securities who so requests concerning the Trust, Company and its subsidiaries (to the extent that such information is available or can be acquired and made available to each prospective Subsequent Purchaser without unreasonable effort or expense and to the extent the provision thereof is not prohibited by applicable law or contractual restriction) and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities, as provided in the Offering Memorandums.
(c) Resale Pursuant to Rule 903 of Regulation S or Rule 144A. Each Initial Purchaser understands that the Series A Capital Securities have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under the 1933 Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Each Initial Purchaser represents and agrees, that, except as permitted below, it has offered and sold Series A Capital Securities and will offer and sell Series A Capital Securities (i) as part of their distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until forty days after the later of the date upon which the offering of the Series A Capital Securities commences and the Closing Time, only in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S or Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or to Institutional Accredited Investors. Accordingly, neither the Initial Purchasers and their affiliates nor any persons acting on their behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to Series A Capital Securities, and the Initial Purchasers, their affiliates and any person acting on their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restriction requirements of Regulation S. Each Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Series A Capital Securities (other than a sale of Series A Capital Securities pursuant to Rule 144A or to Institutional Accredited Investors), it will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases Securities from it or through it during the restricted period a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:
"The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until forty days after the later of the date upon which the offering of the Securities commenced and the date of closing, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meaning given to them by Regulation S."
Terms used in the above paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.
Each Initial Purchaser severally represents and agrees that it has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangements with respect to the distribution of the Series A Capital Securities, except with its affiliates that are Qualified Institutional Buyers or with the prior written consent of the Offerors.
(d) Compliance with United Kingdom Law. Each Initial Purchaser represents and agrees that (i) it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of the period of six months from the date hereof, will not offer or sell any Series A Capital Securities to persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995; (ii) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the United Kingdom any document received by it in connection with the issue of the Series A Capital Securities to a person who is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1995 or is a person to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on; and (iii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in relation to any Series A Capital Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
(e) Compliance with Other Laws. Each Initial Purchaser acknowledges that no action has been taken to permit a public offering of the Series A Capital Securities in any jurisdiction outside of the United States where action would be required for such purpose. Each Initial Purchaser agrees that it will not offer or sell any Series A Capital Securities in any jurisdiction outside of the United States except under circumstances that will result in compliance with all applicable laws thereof.
(a) The Offerors agree to jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Memorandums, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Offerors; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by you), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;
(b) Each Initial Purchaser severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, the Trust, the Administrative Trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity agreement in Section 7(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Offering Memorandums in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Trust by such Initial Purchaser through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Offering Memorandums.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action. In no event shall the
indemnifying party or parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or trustees of the Trust submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Trust or the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Series A Capital Securities to the Initial Purchasers.
the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in your
judgment, impracticable to market the Series A Capital Securities or to enforce
contracts for the sale of the Series A Capital Securities, or (ii) if trading in
any securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or the New
York Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on either the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market has
been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or
maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by any of such
exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority or
(iii) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either federal, New York,
Massachusetts or Delaware authorities, or (iv) if there has been, since the date
hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Offering Memorandums, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, except that the announcement
of or execution of an agreement relating to the terms and conditions of the
Acquisition (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) will not be considered a
material adverse change for purposes of this clause (iv).
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
If one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Initial Purchasers shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or any other Initial Purchasers, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Initial Purchasers shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24- hour period, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Initial Purchasers or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time until no later than February 5, 1997 in order to effect any required changes in the Offering Memorandums or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the
term "Initial Purchaser" includes any person substituted for an Initial Purchaser under this Section 11.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Initial Purchasers shall be directed to the Initial Purchasers c/o Merrill Lynch at North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1201, attention of Steven J. Goulart, with a copy to Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention of Faith Grossnickle, Esq.; notices to the Offerors shall be directed to Allmerica Financial Corporation, 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653, attention of Edward J. Parry III, with a copy to Ropes & Gray, One International Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention of Lauren I. Norton, Esq.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other thin the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Initial Purchaser shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding Agreement between the Initial Purchasers and the Offerors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AFC CAPITAL TRUST I
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
By: MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Series A
Capital
Name of Initial Purchaser Securities
- ------------------------- ----------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated........................................ 150,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated............................ 150,000
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Total........................................................ 300,000
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