UNITED STATES

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 1, 2012

 

General Electric Company


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

 

 

 

 

New York

 

001-00035

 

14-0689340


 


 


(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


 

 

 

3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut

 

06828-0001


 


(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (203) 373-2211

 


(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




 

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On October 9, 2012, General Electric Company (the “Company”) closed the public offering of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 0.850% Notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”), $3,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.700% Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) and $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Notes due 2042 (the “2042 Notes” and together with the 2015 Notes and the 2022 Notes, the “Notes”), pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated October 1, 2012, by and among the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein.

The Notes were issued pursuant to a senior note indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by company orders and officer's certificates of the Company, dated as of October 9, 2012 (the “Company Orders and Officer’s Certificates” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.

The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177804), including a base prospectus (the “Registration Statement”), as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 1, 2012, and a final prospectus supplement, filed with the SEC on October 2, 2012. This Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

The foregoing description of the Notes, the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and other documents relating to this transaction does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of these securities and documents, forms or copies of which are attached as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

(d)

Exhibits .


 

 

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description


 


1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated October 1, 2012, by and among the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein

 

 

 

4.1

 

Senior Note Indenture, dated October 9, 2012, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee

 

 

 

4.2

 

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate of the Company, 0.850% Notes due 2015, dated October 9, 2012

 

 

 

4.3

 

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate of the Company, 2.700% Notes due 2022, dated October 9, 2012

 

 

 

4.4

 

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate of the Company, 4.125% Notes due 2042, dated October 9, 2012

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of 0.850% Note due 2015

 

 

 

4.6

 

Form of 2.700% Note due 2022




 

 

 

4.7

 

Form of 4.125% Note due 2042

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jamie S. Miller

 

 


 

 

Jamie S. Miller
Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

Date: October 9, 2012

 

 




Exhibit 1.1

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
(“ COMPANY ”)

DEBT SECURITIES
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

October 1, 2012

General Electric Company
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828
Attention:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          On behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto and for their respective accounts, we offer to purchase, on and subject to the terms and conditions of, and utilizing terms as defined in, the Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt Securities and/or Warrants) dated as of November 21, 2008 (“ Standard Provisions ”), which is attached hereto, the following securities (“ Designated Securities ”) on the following terms:

DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

$2,000,000,000 0.850% Notes due 2015

 

 

 

 

 

Pricing Effective Time:

 

6:03 PM, EST on October 1, 2012

 

 

 

Pricing Disclosure Material:

 

Basic Prospectus dated December 8, 2011, Preliminary Prospectus dated October 1, 2012 and Permitted Free Writing Prospectus dated October 1, 2012, in the aggregate

 

 

 

Indenture:

 

Senior Note Indenture to be dated as of October 9, 2012, between General Electric Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee for the senior debt securities

 

 

 

Title:

 

0.850% Notes due 2015

 

 

 

Rank:

 

Senior Unsecured

 

 

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:

 

$2,000,000,000

 

 

 

Overallotment Option:

 

None

 

 

 

Interest Rate:

 

0.850%

 

 

 

Maturity:

 

October 9, 2015




 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

April 9 and October 9 of each year, beginning on April 9, 2013, and on the maturity date

 

 

 

Regular Record Dates:

 

March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the related interest payment date

 

 

 

Conversion or Exchange Provisions:

 

None

 

 

 

Listing Requirements:

 

None

 

 

 

Fixed or Variable Price Offering:

 

Fixed

 

 

 

If Fixed Price Offering, initial public offering price:

 

99.973% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from October 9, 2012

 

 

 

Purchase Price by Underwriters:

 

99.873% of the principal amount ($1,997,460,000)

 

 

 

Currency of Denomination:

 

USD

 

 

 

Currency of Payment:

 

USD

 

 

 

Form and Denomination:

 

One or more global notes deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company; denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

 

 

Overseas Paying Agents:

 

Not Applicable

 

 

 

Redemption:

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries + 10 basis points

 

 

 

Sinking Fund:

 

None

 

 

 

Dealer Concession:

 

0.05%

 

 

 

Reallowance Concession:

 

0.025%

 

 

 

Method of Payment:

 

Same day funds

 

 

 

Other Terms:

 

None

 

 

 

If changes in the Standard Provisions have been agreed to, set forth below:

 

In the third paragraph, the reference to “An automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act” shall be replaced with “The registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177804)”.




 

 

 

 

 

The representation in Section 1(A)(5) shall be replaced with “The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission with respect to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(1) under the 1933 Act has been received by the Company; and the Company is not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 at the “determination date” relevant to the offering and sale of the Designated Securities under the Registration Statement (as described in such definition)”.

 

 

 

 

 

The opinion referred to in Section 5(b) shall be delivered by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

 

 

 

 

 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP shall deliver an opinion that the statements in the Prospectus under the caption “United States Tax Considerations,” insofar as they constitute summaries of matters of U.S. federal income and estate tax law and regulation or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly present the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

 

 

 

 

Notices to the Company pursuant to Section 10 shall be sent to 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828, attention Treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

The following section is added to the Standard Provisions: “In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L, 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies its clients, which may include the name and address of their clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their clients.”

 

 

 

$3,000,000,000 2.700% Notes due 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Pricing Effective Time:

 

6:03 PM, EST on October 1, 2012

 

 

 

Pricing Disclosure Material:

 

Basic Prospectus dated December 8, 2011, Preliminary Prospectus dated October 1, 2012 and Permitted Free Writing Prospectus dated October 1, 2012, in the aggregate




 

 

 

Indenture:

 

Senior Note Indenture to be dated as of October 9, 2012, between General Electric Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee for the senior debt securities

 

 

 

Title:

 

2.700% Notes due 2022

 

 

 

Rank:

 

Senior Unsecured

 

 

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:

 

$3,000,000,000

 

 

 

Overallotment Option:

 

None

 

 

 

Interest Rate:

 

2.700%

 

 

 

Maturity:

 

October 9, 2022

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

April 9 and October 9 of each year, beginning on April 9, 2013, and on the maturity date

 

 

 

Regular Record Dates:

 

March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the related interest payment date

 

 

 

Conversion or Exchange Provisions:

 

None

 

 

 

Listing Requirements:

 

None

 

 

 

Fixed or Variable Price Offering:

 

Fixed

 

 

 

If Fixed Price Offering, initial public offering price:

 

99.765% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from October 9, 2012

 

 

 

Purchase Price by Underwriters:

 

99.415% of the principal amount ($2,982,450,000)

 

 

 

Currency of Denomination:

 

USD

 

 

 

Currency of Payment:

 

USD

 

 

 

Form and Denomination:

 

One or more global notes deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company; denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

 

 

Overseas Paying Agents:

 

Not Applicable

 

 

 

Redemption:

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries +15 basis points




 

 

 

Sinking Fund:

 

None

 

 

 

Dealer Concession:

 

0.20%

 

 

 

Reallowance Concession:

 

0.125%

 

 

 

Method of Payment:

 

Same day funds

 

 

 

Other Terms:

 

None

 

 

 

If changes in the Standard Provisions have been agreed to, set forth below:

 

In the third paragraph, the reference to “An automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act” shall be replaced with “The registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177804)”.

 

 

 

 

 

The representation in Section 1(A)(5) shall be replaced with “The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission with respect to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(1) under the 1933 Act has been received by the Company; and the Company is not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 at the “determination date” relevant to the offering and sale of the Designated Securities under the Registration Statement (as described in such definition)”.

 

 

 

 

 

The opinion referred to in Section 5(b) shall be delivered by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

 

 

 

 

 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP shall deliver an opinion that the statements in the Prospectus under the caption “United States Tax Considerations,” insofar as they constitute summaries of matters of U.S. federal income and estate tax law and regulation or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly present the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

 

 

 

 

Notices to the Company pursuant to Section 10 shall be sent to 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828, attention Treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

The following section is added to the Standard Provisions: “In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L, 107-56




 

 

 

 

 

(signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies its clients, which may include the name and address of their clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their clients.”

 

 

 

$2,000,000,000 4.125% Notes due 2042

 

 

 

 

 

Pricing Effective Time:

 

6:03 PM, EST on October 1, 2012

 

 

 

Pricing Disclosure Material:

 

Basic Prospectus dated December 8, 2011, Preliminary Prospectus dated October 1, 2012 and Permitted Free Writing Prospectus dated October 1, 2012, in the aggregate

 

 

 

Indenture:

 

Senior Note Indenture to be dated as of October 9, 2012, between General Electric Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee for the senior debt securities

 

 

 

Title:

 

4.125% Notes due 2042

 

 

 

Rank:

 

Senior Unsecured

 

 

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:

 

$2,000,000,000

 

 

 

Overallotment Option:

 

None

 

 

 

Interest Rate:

 

4.125%

 

 

 

Maturity:

 

October 9, 2042

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

April 9 and October 9 of each year, beginning on April 9, 2013, and on the maturity date

 

 

 

Regular Record Dates:

 

March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the related interest payment date

 

 

 

Conversion or Exchange Provisions:

 

None

 

 

 

Listing Requirements:

 

None

 

 

 

Fixed or Variable Price Offering:

 

Fixed

 

 

 

If Fixed Price Offering, initial public offering price:

 

99.437% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from October 9, 2012




 

 

 

Purchase Price by Underwriters:

 

98.687% of the principal amount ($1,973,740,000)

 

 

 

Currency of Denomination:

 

USD

 

 

 

Currency of Payment:

 

USD

 

 

 

Form and Denomination:

 

One or more global notes deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company; denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

 

 

Overseas Paying Agents:

 

Not Applicable

 

 

 

Redemption:

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries + 20 basis points

 

 

 

Sinking Fund:

 

None

 

 

 

Dealer Concession:

 

0.45%

 

 

 

Reallowance Concession:

 

0.25%

 

 

 

Method of Payment:

 

Same day funds

 

 

 

Other Terms:

 

None

 

 

 

If changes in the Standard Provisions have been agreed to, set forth below:

 

In the third paragraph, the reference to “An automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act” shall be replaced with “The registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177804)”.

 

 

 

 

 

The representation in Section 1(A)(5) shall be replaced with “The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission with respect to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(1) under the 1933 Act has been received by the Company; and the Company is not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 at the “determination date” relevant to the offering and sale of the Designated Securities under the Registration Statement (as described in such definition)”.

 

 

 

 

 

The opinion referred to in Section 5(b) shall be delivered by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.




 

 

 

 

 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP shall deliver an opinion that the statements in the Prospectus under the caption “United States Tax Considerations,” insofar as they constitute summaries of matters of U.S. federal income and estate tax law and regulation or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly present the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

 

 

 

 

Notices to the Company pursuant to Section 10 shall be sent to 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828, attention Treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

The following section is added to the Standard Provisions: “In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L, 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies its clients, which may include the name and address of their clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their clients.”



Name and Address of Representatives:

Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
60 Wall Street, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10005

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

          The Representatives named above and executing this Underwriting Agreement represent that the Underwriters have authorized the Representatives to enter into this Underwriting Agreement and to act hereunder on their behalf.

          The respective principal amounts of the Designated Securities to be purchased by each of the Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.

          The provisions of the Standard Provisions are incorporated herein by reference.

          The Closing will take place at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on October 9, 2012, at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

          Please signify your acceptance by signing the enclosed response to us in the space provided and returning it to us.



 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Travis H. Barnes

 

 


 

Name: Travis H. Barnes

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Bednarski

 

 


 

Name: Brian Bednarski

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Anguel Zaprianov

 

 


 

Name: Anguel Zaprianov

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harlan Rothman

 

 


 

Name: Harlan Rothman

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Hickey

 

 


 

Name: Michael Hickey

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Bottamedi

 

 


 

Name: Robert Bottamedi

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Yurij Slyz

 

 


 

Name: Yurij Slyz

 

Title: Executive Director

 

 

 

 

as Representatives for themselves and the other underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto




 

 

 

Accepted:

 

 

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer



SCHEDULE I

DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$2,000,000,000 0.850%
Notes
due 2015

 

$3,000,000,000 2.700%
Notes
due 2022

 

$2,000,000,000 4.215%
Notes
due 2042


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNDERWRITER

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT

 

UNDERWRITER

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT

 

UNDERWRITER

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

$

219,000,000

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

$

328,500,000

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

$

219,000,000

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

219,000,000

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

328,500,000

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

219,000,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

 

219,000,000

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

 

328,500,000

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

 

219,000,000

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

219,000,000

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

328,500,000

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

219,000,000

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

 

219,000,000

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

 

328,500,000

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

 

219,000,000

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

 

219,000,000

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

 

328,500,000

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

 

219,000,000

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

73,000,000

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

109,500,000

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

73,000,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

 

73,000,000

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

 

109,500,000

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

 

73,000,000

Banca IMI S.p.A.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Banca IMI S.p.A.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Banca IMI S.p.A.

 

 

27,000,000

Blaylock Robert Van, LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

Blaylock Robert Van, LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

Blaylock Robert Van, LLC

 

 

27,000,000

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

 

 

27,000,000

 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

 

 

40,500,000

 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

 

 

27,000,000

CastleOak Securities, L.P.

 

 

27,000,000

 

CastleOak Securities, L.P.

 

 

40,500,000

 

CastleOak Securities, L.P.

 

 

27,000,000

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

ING Financial Markets LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

ING Financial Markets LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

ING Financial Markets LLC

 

 

27,000,000

Lebenthal & Co., LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

Lebenthal & Co., LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

Lebenthal & Co., LLC

 

 

27,000,000

Lloyds Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Lloyds Securities Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Lloyds Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

 

27,000,000




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RBS Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

RBS Securities Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

RBS Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

 

40,500,000

 

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

 

27,000,000

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

 

27,000,000

 

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

 

40,500,000

 

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

 

27,000,000

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

27,000,000

UBS Securities LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

UBS Securities LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

UBS Securities LLC

 

 

27,000,000

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

 

27,000,000

 

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

 

40,500,000

 

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

 

27,000,000

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

 

27,000,000

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

 

40,500,000

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

 

27,000,000

 

Total:

 

$

2,000,000,000

 

 

 

$

3,000,000,000

 

 

 

$

2,000,000,000



SCHEDULE II

Attached Permitted Free Writing Prospectus: The only such prospectus is identified below and attached substantially in the form hereto:

Pricing Term Sheet dated October 1, 2012
(to Preliminary Prospectus dated October 1, 2012)
General Electric Company


Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Dated October 1, 2012
Registration Statement: 333-177804

PRICING TERM SHEET

General Electric Company

October 1, 2012

$2,000,000,000 0.850% Notes due 2015
$3,000,000,000 2.700% Notes due 2022
$2,000,000,000 4.125% Notes due 2042

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuer:

 

General Electric Company

 

 

 

 

Trade Date:

 

October 1, 2012

 

 

 

 

Settlement Date:

 

October 9, 2012 (T+5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

0.850% Notes due 2015

 

2.700% Notes due 2022

 

4.125% Notes due 2042

Expected Ratings*:

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

Principal Amount:

 

$2,000,000,000

 

$3,000,000,000

 

$2,000,000,000

Maturity Date:

 

October 9, 2015

 

October 9, 2022

 

October 9, 2042

Coupon:

 

0.850%

 

2.700%

 

4.125%

Benchmark Treasury:

 

UST 0.250% 09/15/2015

 

UST 1.625% 08/15/2022

 

UST 3.000% 05/15/2042

Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:

 

99-26+ / 0.309%

 

99-31+ / 1.627%

 

103-27 / 2.808%

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

 

+55 basis points

 

+110 basis points

 

+135 basis points

Yield to Maturity:

 

0.859%

 

2.727%

 

4.158%

Optional Redemption:

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries + 10 basis points

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries + 15 basis points

 

Make-whole redemption at the discount rate of U.S. Treasuries + 20 basis points

Price to Public:

 

99.973% of principal amount

 

99.765% of principal amount

 

99.437% of principal amount

Underwriting Discount:

 

0.10%

 

0.35%

 

0.75%

Proceeds (before expenses) to Issuer:

 

$1,997,460,000

 

$2,982,450,000

 

$1,973,740,000

Interest Payment Dates:

 

April 9 and October 9

 

April 9 and October 9

 

April 9 and October 9

First Interest Payment Date:

 

April 9, 2013

 

April 9, 2013

 

April 9, 2013

Bookrunners:

 

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Senior Co-Managers:

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

Co-Managers:

 

Banca IMI S.p.A.
Blaylock Robert Van, LLC
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
CastleOak Securities, L.P.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
ING Financial Markets LLC

 

Banca IMI S.p.A.
Blaylock Robert Van, LLC
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
CastleOak Securities, L.P.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
ING Financial Markets LLC

 

Banca IMI S.p.A.
Blaylock Robert Van, LLC
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
CastleOak Securities, L.P.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
ING Financial Markets LLC




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lebenthal & Co., LLC
Lloyds Securities Inc.
Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

Lebenthal & Co., LLC
Lloyds Securities Inc.
Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

Lebenthal & Co., LLC
Lloyds Securities Inc.
Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

 

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
RBS Securities Inc.
Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.

 

 

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

Santander Investment Securities Inc.

 

 

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

 

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC
UBS Securities LLC
UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC
UBS Securities LLC
UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC
UBS Securities LLC
UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

 

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSIP / ISIN:

 

369604BE2 /
US369604BE28

 

369604BD4 /
US369604BD45

 

369604BF9 /
US369604BF92

* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and may be subject to change or withdrawal at any time.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov . Alternatively, the issuer or the underwriters participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Barclays Capital Inc. toll-free at 1-888-603-5847, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. toll-free at 800-503-4611, Goldman, Sachs & Co. toll-free at 1-866-471-252, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533 or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll free at 1-866-718-1659.


GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

DEBT SECURITIES AND/OR WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

STANDARD PROVISIONS

November 21, 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen:

General Electric Company, a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), may from time to time enter into one or more underwriting agreements in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (each an “ Underwriting Agreement ”) that provide for the sale of certain of its securities specified in the particular Underwriting Agreement (the “ Securities ”) specified in Schedule I to such Underwriting Agreement (with respect to such Underwriting Agreement, the “ Firm Securities ”). If specified in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company may grant to the Underwriters (as defined below) the right to purchase at their election an additional number of Securities, specified in such Underwriting Agreement (the “ Optional Securities ”). The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities, if any, which the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement are collectively called the “ Designated Securities .” The basic provisions set forth herein to the extent applicable to securities of the type represented by the Designated Securities will be incorporated by reference in any such Underwriting Agreement relating to a particular issue of Designated Securities. Each Underwriting Agreement will be entered into, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine and shall be specified in such Underwriting Agreement. The Underwriting Agreement may appoint a lead underwriter or underwriters (collectively, the “ Representative ”) for the particular issue of Designated Securities and will specify the underwriters participating in such offering (the “ Underwriters ”, which term shall include any Underwriter substituted pursuant to Section 9 hereof). The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Designated Securities and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Designated Securities shall be evidenced by the Underwriting Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities specified therein. The Underwriting Agreement, including the provisions incorporated therein by reference, is herein referred to as “this Agreement.” The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement shall be several and not joint. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as defined therein.

The terms and rights of any particular issue of Designated Securities shall be as specified in the Underwriting Agreement relating thereto and (i) if the Designated Securities are either senior or subordinated debt securities (“ Debt Securities ”), in or pursuant to the senior or subordinated indenture as applicable (the “ Indenture ”) identified in the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) if the Designated Securities are warrants (“ Warrants ”), in or pursuant to a warrant agreement (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) identified in the Underwriting Agreement and (iii) if the Designated Securities are debt securities subject to the warrants (“ Warrant Debt Securities ”), pursuant to the

 

1


Indenture identified in the Underwriting Agreement. An Underwriting Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted.

An automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ 1933 Act ”) in respect of the Designated Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”); the registration statement has become effective pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “ 1933 Act Regulations ”) and the Indentures filed as exhibits to the registration statement have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ 1939 Act ”); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Company proposes to file pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Designated Securities and reflecting the terms of the Designated Securities and plan of distribution arising from the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Pricing Supplement ”) and has previously advised the Underwriters of all information to be set forth therein. The term “Registration Statement” as used with respect to a particular issue of Designated Securities, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the 1933 Act as such section applies to the Company and the Underwriters for the Designated Securities pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act (the “ Effective Time ”), including (i) all documents then filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and (ii) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(1) under the 1933 Act, to be part of the Registration Statement at the Effective Time. The term “ Basic Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement exclusive of the Pricing Supplement. The term “ Prospectus ” means the Basic Prospectus together with the Pricing Supplement in the form first used in the offering of the Designated Securities. The term “ Preliminary Prospectus ” means a preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Designated Securities together with the Basic Prospectus. The term “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus ” as used herein means the documents relating to the Designated Securities attached as Schedule II to the Underwriting Agreement for the Designated Securities.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the execution of the applicable Underwriting Agreement; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to 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 Registration Statement, Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, after the execution of the applicable Underwriting Agreement.

 

2


SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES .

(A) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE COMPANY . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter named in the applicable Underwriting Agreement, as of the Pricing Effective Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Time (as defined below) and as of the Option Closing Time (as defined below) with respect to the Designated Securities as follows:

(1) each document filed by the Company pursuant to the 1934 Act which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Material (as defined below) complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and each document, if any, hereafter filed by the Company and so incorporated by reference in the Prospectus will comply in all material respects when so filed with the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

(2) at the Effective Time, the Registration Statement (and any amendments and supplements thereto, other than supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities) will comply and when filed or at the Closing Time, the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto, other than supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities) will comply, in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations;

(3) each Preliminary Prospectus, if any, relating to the Designated Securities filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations;

(4) (i) at the Effective Time, the Registration Statement will not contain 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 not misleading; (ii) at the Pricing Effective Time, the Pricing Disclosure Material (as defined below) did not contain 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; and (iii) the Prospectus as of the date of the Pricing Supplement will not, and the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, other than as to supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities) as of the Closing Time will not, contain 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;

except that these representations and warranties do not apply to (a) statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to the foregoing, or in the Pricing Disclosure Material, based upon information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter expressly for use therein and (b) any Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

 

3


(5) the Registration Statement constitutes an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) filed within three years of the date hereof; no notice of objection of the Commission with respect to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act has been received by the Company; and the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” and is not an ineligible issuer in each case as defined in Rule 405 at the “determination dates” relevant to the offering and sale of the Designated Securities under the Registration Statement (as described in such definition); and

(6) the Company has not used any free writing prospectus other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or used a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rule 433 under the 1933 Act and otherwise in compliance with the 1933 Act.

SECTION 2. PRICING EFFECTIVE TIME; SALE AND DELIVERY; CLOSING .

(A) EFFECTIVENESS OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT AND SALES CONFIRMATIONS . The Underwriting Agreement shall not be effective, and the Underwriters agree that no contracts of sale may be entered into by the Underwriters in respect of the Designated Securities, until the “Pricing Effective Time” specified in the Underwriting Agreement. The “Pricing Effective Time” shall occur and be confirmed by specification in the Underwriting Agreement. The documents and other information comprising the “Pricing Disclosure Material” shall be set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

(B) DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACTS . Pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement, the Company will agree to sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto and the Underwriters, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, will agree to purchase from the Company severally and not jointly, (i) the principal amounts of Debt Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I thereto, less their respective amounts of the Contract Debt Securities (as hereinafter defined), if any, determined as provided below, and/or (ii) Warrants to purchase the principal amounts of Warrant Debt Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I thereto, less their respective amounts of the Contract Warrants (as hereinafter defined), if any, determined as provided below, all at the respective purchase prices set forth in such Underwriting Agreement, plus accrued interest, if any, from the date set forth therein to the date of payment and delivery. Debt Securities and, if applicable, Warrants to be purchased pursuant to delayed delivery contracts are hereinafter referred to as “Contract Debt Securities” and “Contract Warrants”, respectively, and collectively as the “Contract Securities”.

If so indicated in the applicable Underwriting Agreement, the Company may authorize the Underwriters to solicit offers to purchase Contract Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein pursuant to delayed delivery contracts (hereinafter referred to as “Delayed Delivery Contracts”). Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors approved by the Company and described in the Prospectus. The aggregate principal amount of Contract Debt Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities for which Contract Warrants are exercisable shall not exceed the respective amounts set forth in Schedule I to the applicable Underwriting Agreement. As of the Closing Time, the Company

 

4


will pay to the Representative as compensation, for the accounts of the Underwriters, the fee specified in the applicable Underwriting Agreement in respect of all Contract Securities. The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or the performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts.

If the Designated Securities are Debt Securities, the deduction for the Contract Debt Securities referred to above shall become effective upon execution and delivery by the Company and the several institutional investors of the Delayed Delivery Contracts and such deduction for each Underwriter shall be in the amount which shall bear the same proportion to the total principal amount of Contract Debt Securities as the principal amount of Debt Securities set forth opposite the name of the respective Underwriter bears to the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities set forth in Schedule I to the applicable Underwriting Agreement, except to the extent that the Representative determines that such deduction shall be otherwise than in such proportions, and so advises the Company in writing.

If the Designated Securities are Warrants and Debt Warrant Securities, the deduction for the Contract Warrants referred to above shall become effective upon execution and delivery by the Company and the several institutional investors of the Delayed Delivery Contracts and such deduction for each Underwriter shall be in the amount which shall bear the same proportion to the total principal amount of Debt Warrant Securities for which Contract Warrants are exercisable as the principal amount of Debt Warrant Securities for which Warrants are exercisable as set forth opposite the name of the respective Underwriter bears to the aggregate principal amount of Debt Warrant Securities for which Warrants are exercisable as set forth in Schedule I to the applicable Underwriting Agreement, except to the extent that the Representative determines that such deduction shall be otherwise than in such proportions, and so advises the Company in writing.

(C) SALES TO UNDERWRITERS . The several commitments of the Underwriters to purchase the Designated Securities pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth.

(D) PAYMENT; CLOSING . Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement relating thereto, in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representative may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representative for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor in the funds and in the manner specified in such Underwriting Agreement, all at the place and time and date specified in such Underwriting Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the “Closing Time” for such Designated Securities.

In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase the Optional Securities, each Underwriter shall be entitled to purchase the number of Optional Securities which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Optional Securities being purchased as the number of Firm Securities of the same type of securities as the Optional Securities set forth

 

5


opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I to the applicable Underwriting Agreement bears to the aggregate number of Firm Securities of such type of Securities being purchased by the several Underwriters pursuant to such Underwriting Agreement, subject to adjustments to eliminate any fractional shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make. The purchase price for such Optional Securities shall be equal to the purchase price of the Firm Securities of the same type.

The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase the Optional Securities at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Underwriting Agreement, by written notice from the Representative to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Optional Securities as to which the option is being exercised and the date, time and place for the delivery and payment of the Optional Securities which may be the same date, time and place as the Closing Date but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day after the date of such notice (the “Option Closing Date”). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date, time and place of delivery specified therein.

Concurrently with the delivery of and payment for the Designated Securities, the Company will deliver to the Representative for the accounts of the Underwriters a wire transfer to the order of the party designated in the Underwriting Agreement relating to such securities in the amount of any compensation payable by the Company to the Underwriters in respect of any Delayed Delivery Contracts as provided in paragraph (B) of this Section 2 and in the Underwriting Agreement related to such securities.

SECTION 3. COVENANTS .

(A) COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY . The Company covenants with each Underwriter of the Designated Securities as follows:

(1) COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES REGULATIONS AND COMMISSION REQUESTS . The Company will (i) comply in respect of the Designated Securities with the requirements of the 1933 Act Regulations, as applicable, and will promptly within the time periods specified therein effect the filings required of it pursuant to Rule 424 and/or Rule 433 under the 1933 Act, and (ii) take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424 or Rule 433, as applicable, were received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that one was not, it will promptly file the Prospectus or, as provided in Rule 164, the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as applicable.

(2) DELIVERY OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND PROSPECTUSES . The Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and each amendment thereto which shall become effective on or prior to the Closing Time and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the 1933 Act (the “ Prospectus Delivery Period ”), as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto as well as each

 

6


Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (if applicable) as the Representative may reasonably request; provided, that the Company shall not be required to furnish copies of the Prospectus if the conditions of Rule 172(c) under the 1933 Act are satisfied by the Company.

(3) CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS . If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will 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 existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request, provided that the Company shall have no such obligation to furnish copies if the conditions of Rule 172(c) under the 1933 Act are satisfied by the Company.

(4) BLUE SKY QUALIFICATIONS . The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Designated Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request; provided, however , that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction.

(5) EARNINGS STATEMENT . The Company will make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the date of each Underwriting Agreement, an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

(B) COVENANT OF THE UNDERWRITERS . Each Underwriter of the Designated Securities covenants with the Company that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Designated Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or a free writing prospectus which is not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433; provided, that, if so specified in the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters will make no offer relating to the Designated Securities that will constitute a free writing prospectus, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, without the prior consent of the Company.

 

7


SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES .

The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors or agents (including transfer agents and registrars), as well as the fees and disbursements of the Trustees and any warrant agent, and their respective counsel, (iii) the qualification of the Designated Securities under state securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(A)(4) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation, printing and delivery of the Blue Sky Survey, and any amendment thereto, (iv) the printing, to the extent required hereby, and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (v) the fees charged by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations for the rating of the Designated Securities and (vi) the fees and expenses incurred with respect to the listing, if any, of the Designated Securities.

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS’ OBLIGATIONS .

The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Designated Securities pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(A) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and there shall have been no material adverse change (not in the ordinary course of business) in the condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus; and the Representative shall have received at the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time a certificate of the Company, dated the date of the Closing Time or the Option Closing Time and signed by an officer of the Company, to the foregoing effect. The officer making such certificate may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.

(B) At the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion, relating to the Designated Securities and substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, dated such date, of Michael R. McAlevey, Esq., Chief Corporate and Securities Counsel, or such other person named in the Underwriting Agreement.

(C) At the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion, dated such date, of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, or such other counsel for the Company named in the Underwriting Agreement, relating to the Designated Securities, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

 

8


(D) At the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion, dated such date, of counsel for the Underwriters, relating to the Designated Securities and such other matters as the Representative may reasonably request.

(E) At the Closing Time and any Option Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from KPMG LLP letters dated each such date containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.

(A) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (if used within the period set forth in paragraph (3) of Section 3(A) hereof and as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter expressly for the use therein; provided, however , that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any losses, claims, damages or liabilities otherwise covered by this paragraph purchased Designated Securities, or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or Prospectus (as then amended and supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person if required so to have been delivered, at or prior to the entry into the contract of sale of Designated Securities with such person, and if the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability.

Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, (i) with reference to information furnished in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Material or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto and (ii) arising from any other free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter, except to the extent arising from information furnished in writing by the Company expressly for use therein.

 

9


Promptly after receipt by any person of notice of any claim or the institution of any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it elects (upon notice to the indemnified party), jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If the indemnifying party shall not have so elected to assume such defense, then, upon request of the indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. If the indemnifying party shall so elect to assume such defense, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party pursuant to this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Anything hereinabove to the contrary notwithstanding, any reference in this Section 6 to counsel reasonably satisfactory to, or designated by, the indemnified party shall mean (i) in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the second preceding paragraph, counsel reasonably satisfactory to, or designated by, the Representative on behalf of all parties so indemnified pursuant to such paragraph and (ii) in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first preceding paragraph, counsel reasonable satisfactory to, or designated by, the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action 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.

(B) CONTRIBUTION . If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of Section 6 is unavailable as a matter of law to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) if the indemnifying party is the Company, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefit received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the

 

10


Designated Securities, (ii) if an Underwriter is the indemnifying party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the Underwriter’s relative fault on the one hand and that of the Company on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, or (iii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) or clause (ii) above, as the case may be, is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefit referred to in clause (i) above or the relative fault referred to in clause (ii) above, as the case may be, but also such relative fault (in cases covered by clause (i)) or such relative benefit (in cases covered by clause (ii)) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefit received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omissions.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this paragraph were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations provided for, in the respective cases, in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Designated Securities underwritten by such Underwriter and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provision of this paragraph (b) concerning contribution, no indemnifying party shall be required to make contribution in any circumstances in which such party would not have been required to provide indemnification by the terms of paragraph (a). Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by an indemnified party of such party’s rights, if any, to receive contribution pursuant to Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act or other applicable law. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this section are several, in proportion to the respective amounts of Designated Securities underwritten by each of such Underwriters, and not joint.

In the event that the indemnifying party is one or more of the Underwriters, then the Representative shall act on behalf of the indemnifying party with respect to receipt of notice, agreement as to retention of separate counsel and consent to settlement, and the indemnified party may rely upon the action of the Representative as binding upon each such indemnifying party for purposes of this section.

 

11


SECTION 7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY .

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto or thereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Designated Securities. The provisions of Section 6 shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

SECTION 8. TERMINATION .

This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the discretion of a majority in interest of the Representative of a particular issue of Designated Securities at any time subsequent to the date of the applicable Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date by notice given to the Company, if (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the State of New York or the United States shall have been declared by the appropriate authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any material outbreak, or material escalation, of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis, of such magnitude and severity in its effect on the financial markets of the United States, in the reasonable judgment of a majority in interest of the Representative, as to prevent or materially impair the marketing, or enforcement of contracts for sale, of the Designated Securities.

SECTION 9. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS .

If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Designated Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under the applicable Underwriting Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), then the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, 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 Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(A) if the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of Designated Securities to be purchased on such date pursuant to such Underwriting Agreement, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations under such Underwriting Agreement bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(B) if the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of Designated Securities to be purchased on such date pursuant to such Underwriting Agreement, such Underwriting Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.

 

12


No action taken pursuant to this Section 9 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of the applicable Underwriting Agreement, either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.

SECTION 10. NOTICES .

All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to them, at the address of the Representative described in the applicable Underwriting Agreement; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to it, at 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828; attention Michael R. McAlevey, Esq.

SECTION 11. PARTIES .

This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, the Representative and any other Underwriters 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 than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Section 6 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 and thereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and thereto 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.

SECTION 12. RELATIONSHIP .

The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that in connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters have an arms-length business relationship that creates no fiduciary duty on the part of either party and each expressly disclaims any fiduciary relationship.

SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW .

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.

 

13


SECTION 14. EFFECT OF HEADINGS .

The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

14


Exhibit A

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

(“ COMPANY ”)

DEBT SECURITIES AND/OR WARRANTS

TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                    , 200[    ]

General Electric Company

3135 Easton Turnpike

Fairfield, CT 06828

Attention:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto and for their respective accounts, we offer to purchase, on and subject to the terms and conditions of, and utilizing terms as defined in, the Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt Securities and/or Warrants) dated as of November 21, 2008 (“ Standard Provisions ”), which is attached hereto, the following securities (“ Designated Securities ”) on the following terms:

DEBT SECURITIES

 

Pricing Effective Time:

  
Indenture:   
Title:   
Rank:   
Aggregate Principal Amount:    $
Overallotment Option [include only if applicable]:   
Interest Rate:   
Maturity:   
Interest Payment Dates:   
Regular Record Dates:   
Conversion or Exchange Provisions:   

 

A-1


Listing Requirements:   
Fixed or Variable Price Offering:   
If Fixed Price Offering, initial public offering price:         % of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from
Purchase Price by Underwriters:   
Currency of Denomination:   
Currency of Payment:   
Form and Denomination:   
Overseas Paying Agents:   
Redemption:   
Sinking Fund:   
Dealer Concession:   
Reallowance Concession:   
Method of Payment:   
Delayed Delivery Contracts [include only if applicable]:   
Delivery Date:   

Delivery Date:

Minimum principal amount of each contract:

Maximum aggregate principal amount of all contracts:

Fee: %

Other Terms:   
If changes in the Standard Provisions have been agreed to, set forth below:

 

A-2


DEBT WARRANTS

(include only if applicable)

 

Pricing Effective Time:   
Warrant Agreement:   
Number of Debt Warrants to be issued:   
Debt Warrant Agreement:   
Form of Debt Warrants:    Registered
Issuable jointly with Debt Securities:    [Yes] [No]
[Number of Debt Warrants issued with each $ principal amount of Debt Securities:]
[Detachable Date:]   
Date from which Debt Warrants are exercisable:   
Date on which Debt Warrants expire:   
Exercise price of Debt Warrants:   
Purchase Price $   
Title of Warrant Debt Securities:   
Principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of one Debt Warrant:
Indenture:   
Title:   
Rank:   
Aggregate Principal Amount: $   
Interest Rate:   
Maturity:   

 

A-3


Interest Payment Dates:   
Regular Record Dates:   
Conversion Provisions:   
Listing Requirements:   
Fixed or Variable Price Offering:   
If Fixed Price Offering, initial public offering price:         % of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from
Purchase Price by Underwriters:   
Currency of Denomination:   
Currency of Payment:   
Form and Denomination:   
Overseas Paying Agents:   
Redemption:   
Sinking Fund:   
Dealer Concession:   
Reallowance Concession:   
Method of Payment:   
Delayed Delivery Contracts [include only if applicable]:   
Delivery Date:   
Minimum principal amount of each contract:   
Maximum aggregate principal amount of all contracts:   
Fee: %   
Other Terms:   

 

A-4


If changes in the Standard Provisions have been agreed to, set forth below:

Name and Address of Representative:

The Representative named above and executing this Underwriting Agreement represents that the Underwriters have authorized the Representative to enter into this Underwriting Agreement and to act hereunder on their behalf.

The respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities and number of Debt Warrants to be purchased by each of the Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.

The provisions of the Standard Provisions are incorporated herein by reference.

The Closing will take place at [            ]A.M., New York City time, on                     , 20        , at the offices of [            ].

Please signify your acceptance by signing the enclosed response to us in the space provided and returning it to us.

 

Very truly yours,

Name:

 

 

Title:  

 

as Representative for itself and the other underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto

 

Accepted:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

By

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

A-5


SCHEDULE I

DEBT SECURITIES

 

UNDERWRITER

 

    

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

 

  DEBT WARRANTS   

UNDERWRITER

 

    

NUMBER OF DEBT WARRANTS

 

 

A-6


SCHEDULE II

Attached Permitted Free Writing Prospectus

 

Number    Date

 

A-7


Exhibit B

FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY’S CORPORATE COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

Such opinion shall state that, based upon the review and discussion of the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including the documents of the Company incorporated therein by reference) and of the Pricing Disclosure Material by such counsel or members of such counsel’s staff which report to such counsel with certain officials of the Company, but without independent check or verification except as stated in such opinion, nothing has come to such counsel’s attention that would lead such counsel to believe (1) that each document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus which was filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) (except as to financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data contained, referred to or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which, in each case, such counsel need not express any belief) did not comply, when so filed, as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (2) that the Registration Statement at the Effective Time and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto as of their respective effective or issue dates (except for (a) financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data contained, referred to or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, (b) the statements contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities” and, if applicable, “Description of Warrants” or “Description of Common Stock” and in the prospectus supplement under any similar heading relating to the Designated Securities and (c) supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities, as to which, in each case, such counsel need not express any belief) did not comply as to form in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and (3) that (except for (a) financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data contained, referred to or incorporated therein or omitted therefrom, (b) the statements contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities” and, if applicable, “Description of Warrants” or “Description of Common Stock” and in the Pricing Supplement under any similar heading relating to the Designated Securities and (c) supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities, as to which, in each case, such counsel need not express any belief) (i) the Registration Statement at the Effective Time contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) the Pricing Disclosure Material contained, as of the Pricing Effective Time for the Designated Securities, and the Prospectus did not contain, as of the date of the Pricing Supplement relating to the Designated Securities, and the Prospectus relating to the Designated Securities (as amended or supplemented, other than as to supplements relating only to securities other than the Designated Securities), contains, any untrue statement of a material fact or omits 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.

 

B-1


In rendering such opinion, such counsel (1) may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers and public officials and (2) may state that such counsel expresses no opinion as to laws, rules, regulations, consents, approvals, authorizations or other orders other than those of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America, provided that no opinion need be expressed on or in respect to the New York securities laws or “Blue Sky” laws.

 

B-2


Exhibit C

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)

(i) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York.

(ii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(iii) If the Designated Securities are Debt Securities, the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Indenture is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally) and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

(iv) If the Designated Securities are Debt Securities, the Debt Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters (or, in the case of Contract Debt Securities, by purchasers pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts), the Debt Securities, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors, rights generally) and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

(v) If the Designated Securities are Warrants, the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and the Warrant Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally);

(vi) If the Designated Securities are Warrants, the Warrants have been duly authorized and, when countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters (or, in the case of Contract Warrants, by purchasers pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts), the Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors, rights generally);

(vii) If the Designated Securities are Warrant Debt Securities, the Warrant Debt Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered upon exercise of the Warrants as provided in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Debt Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally) and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

 

C-1


(viii) If Delayed Delivery Contracts are entered into, the Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Delayed Delivery Contracts are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally);

(ix) The statements in the Prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities” and under any similar heading in the Pricing Supplement relating to the Designated Securities, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Designated Securities and the Indenture, fairly present the matters referred to therein in all material respects;

(x) The statements in the Prospectus under the caption “Material United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations for Non-United States Holders,” insofar as they constitute summaries of matters of U.S. federal income and estate tax law and regulation or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly present the matters described therein in all material respects; and

(xi) The execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder will not conflict with, constitute a default under or violate (i) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (ii) in any material respect, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any document, agreement or other instrument filed as a part of the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, or (iii) in any material respect, any provision of New York or federal law that in such counsel’s experience is normally applicable to general business corporations in relation to transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement (other than federal and state securities or blue sky laws, as to which such counsel express no opinion in this paragraph).

In rendering such opinion, such counsel (1) may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers and public officials and (2) may state that such counsel expresses no opinion as to laws, rules, regulations, consents, approvals, authorizations or other orders other than those of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America, provided that no opinion need be expressed on or in respect to the New York securities laws or “Blue Sky” laws.

 

C-2


Exhibit 4.1

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of October 9, 2012


CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO
SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318,
INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

 

 

 

 

TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION

 

INDENTURE
SECTION(S)

 

 

 

 

Section 310(a)(1)

 

609

 

(a)(2)

 

609

 

(a)(3)

 

Not Applicable

 

(a)(4)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

608, 610

Section 311(a)

 

613

 

(b)

 

613

Section 312(a)

 

701, 702

 

(b)

 

702

 

(c)

 

702

Section 313(a)

 

703

 

(b)

 

703

 

(c)

 

703

 

(d)

 

703

Section 314(a)

 

704

 

(a)(4)

 

101, 1004

 

(b)

 

Not Applicable

 

(c)(1)

 

102

 

(c)(2)

 

102

 

(c)(3)

 

Not Applicable

 

(d)

 

Not Applicable

 

(e)

 

102

Section 315(a)

 

601

 

(b)

 

602

 

(c)

 

601

 

(d)

 

601

 

(e)

 

514

Section 316(a)

 

101

 

(a)(1)(A)

 

502, 512

 

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

 

(a)(2)

 

Not Applicable

 

(b)

 

508

 

(c)

 

104

Section 317(a)(1)

 

503

 

(a)(2)

 

504

 

(b)

 

1003

Section 318(a)

 

107

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 101. Definitions

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 110. Separability Clause

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 112. Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 114. Counterparts

 

11

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 201. Forms Generally

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

 

18

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

18



Table of Contents
(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 302. Denominations

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 310. Cancellation

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 312. CUSIP or ISIN Numbers

 

30

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money

 

31

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

 

36



Table of Contents
(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 512. Control by Holders

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

 

37

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 605. May Hold Securities

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

44

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

46



Table of Contents
(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 704. Reports by Company

 

47

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted

 

47

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

 

49

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

51

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1004. Statement by Officer as to Default

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1005. Existence

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

53

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article

 

53



Table of Contents
(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part

 

56

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

 

56

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part

 

58

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1401. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions

 

61



Table of Contents
(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1407. Reinstatement

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1408. Qualifying Trustee

 

62

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

 

62

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability

 

62



          INDENTURE (herein called this “Indenture”), dated as of October 9, 2012, between General Electric Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York corporation having an office in New York, New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

          The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

          All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

          For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION

          SECTION 101. Definitions.

          For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

 

 

          (1) the terms defined in this Article One have the meanings assigned to them in this Article One and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

 

 

          (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

 

 

          (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation, provided that when two or more principles are so generally accepted, it shall mean that set of principles consistent with those in use by the Company;

 

 

 

          (4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

 

 

          (5) 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;




 

 

 

          (6) words importing any gender include the other genders;

 

 

 

          (7) references to statutes are to be construed as including all statutory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute referred to;

 

 

 

          (8) references to “writing” include printing, typing, lithography and other means of reproducing words in a tangible, visible form;

 

 

 

          (9) the words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and

 

 

 

          (10) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

          “Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

          “Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,

          “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

          “Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

          “Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

          “Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary, an Assistant Corporate Secretary or an Associate Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

          “Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close.

          “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

          “Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

2


          “Company Request” or “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, a Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, a Vice President, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Corporate Secretary, an Assistant Corporate Secretary or an Associate Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

          “Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, New York 10286.

          “corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business or statutory trust.

          “Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1403.

          “Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307(a).

          “Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1402.

          “Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

          “Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

          “Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

          “Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

          “Extension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

          “Extension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

          “Final Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

          “Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

          “Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

          “Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

3


          “interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

          “Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

          “Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

          “Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal or premium, if any, becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

          “Maximum Interest Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 311.

          “Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4).

          “Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Corporate Secretary, an Assistant Corporate Secretary or an Associate Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.

          “Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company (and who may be an employee of the Company), and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

          “Optional Reset Date” has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).

          “Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

          “Original Stated Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

          “Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

 

 

          (1) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

 

 

          (2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and irrevocably segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

 

 

          (3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1402; and

4



 

 

 

          (4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

          “Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company. The Company initially authorizes and appoints the Trustee as the Paying Agent for each series of the Securities.

          “Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time the specific terms of which Securities, including the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

          “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

          “Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

          “Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

          “Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

5


          “Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

          “Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

          “Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

          “Reset Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).

          “Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, means an officer in the Corporate Trust Office thereof having direct responsibility for administration of this Indenture and, when used with respect to any successor Trustee, means the chairman or any vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any vice chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and, in each case, 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.

          “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

          “Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

          “Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307(a).

          “Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or premium, if any, or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

          “Subsequent Interest Period” has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).

          “Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

          “Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

6


          “Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

          “U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1404.

          “Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

          “Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

          SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

          Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

          Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, other than an Officer’s Certificate required by Section 1004, shall include:

 

 

 

          (1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

 

 

          (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

 

 

          (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, the individual has made or caused to be made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

 

 

          (4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

          SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

          In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons may certify or give an opinion as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

7


          Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which such officer’s certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

          Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

          SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 104.

          The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

          The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

          The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to

8


the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

          The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

          With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

          Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

          SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with

9



 

 

 

          (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Finance, or

 

 

 

          (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to the attention of the Treasurer of the Company at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

          SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

          Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

          In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

          SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

          If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

          SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

          The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

          SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.

          All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

          SECTION 110. Separability Clause.

          In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

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          SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.

          Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

          SECTION 112. Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

          THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

          Each of the Company and the Trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.

          SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

          In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 113)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or at the Stated Maturity, and no additional interest shall accrue as the result of such delayed payment.

          SECTION 114. Counterparts.

          This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS

          SECTION 201. Forms Generally.

          The Securities of each series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded or the rules of any Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined to be appropriate by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form or forms of Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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          The definitive Securities of each series shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods, or engraved on steel engraved borders, if required by any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded, or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

          SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.

[INSERT ANY APPLICABLE LEGENDS]

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

(Title of Security)

 

 

No. _______

$_______

 

 

CUSIP No. _______

          General Electric Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called 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 __________________ [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from ________________ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on _____________ and _____________ in each year, commencing_______________, at the rate of ___% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert — , provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent permitted by applicable law), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. [If applicable, insert — The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the 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 the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close.] The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ____________ or ______________ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

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          [If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.]

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent maintained for that purpose in ______________, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert — ; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register at least fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date].

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

 

Dated:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 


Attest:

 

 

 


 

          SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security.

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert —, limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________________; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Securities of this series may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless

13


such additional Securities and the original Securities of this series are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes].

          [If applicable, insert— The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on this Security may be reset by the Company on _________________ (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to this Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for this Security. If the Company exercises such option, not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106 of the Indenture, to the Holder of this Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating that the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of this Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106 of the Indenture, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of this Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities of this series with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).

          The Holder of this Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of this Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount hereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen of the Indenture for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered this Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.]

          [If applicable, insert — The Stated Maturity of this Security may be extended at the option of the Company for _____________ (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond ______________ (the “Final Maturity”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to this Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of this Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106 of the Indenture, to the Holder of this Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee’s transmittal of the Extension Notice, the

14


Stated Maturity of this Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, this Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of this Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106 of the Indenture, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of this Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities of this series with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

          If the Company extends the Maturity of this Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of this Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount hereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity hereof, the Holder hereof must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen of the Indenture for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered this Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’, but not more than 60 days’, notice by mail, [if applicable, insert — (1) on ___________ in any year commencing with the year _____________ and ending with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after ________________, 20___], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at [if applicable, insert — a redemption price equal to [calculation to be specified]] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

          [If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on _________________ in any year commencing with the year ____ and ending with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after ______________], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning _________________ of the years indicated,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

Redemption Price For
Redemption Through

Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price For
Redemption Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

 


 


 


 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ___% of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

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          [If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to ____________, redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert — Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than ___% per annum.]

          [If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on ______________ in each year beginning with the year _____ and ending with the year _____ of [if applicable, insert — not less than $___________ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $____________ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert —, in the inverse order in which they become due].]

          [If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

          [If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are not subject to redemption by the Company prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.]

          The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          [If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

          [If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

          [If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, treated as one class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the

16


registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $_____________ and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

          SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

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          Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in Sections 202 and 203, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

          Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC” ), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment 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 inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

          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 MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT 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.

          SECTION 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

          The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

Date:

The Bank of New York Mellon,

 

              As Trustee

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

          SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

          The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

          The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate or in a Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

 

 

          (1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

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          (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; provided further, that, if such additional Securities are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the Securities of such series, such additional Securities shall have a different CUSIP number;

 

 

 

          (3) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;

 

 

 

          (4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

 

 

          (5) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

 

 

          (6) the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the term and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

 

 

          (7) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

 

 

          (8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

 

 

          (9) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

 

 

          (10) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units, including composite currencies, in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of

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determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

 

 

          (11) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the period or periods within or the date or dates on which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

 

 

          (12) the percentage of the principal amount at which such Securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

 

 

          (13) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

 

 

          (14) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible or shall be defeasible in a manner varying from Section 1402 and Section 1403 and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

 

 

          (15) whether the Securities of the series, or any portion thereof, shall initially be issuable in the form of a temporary Global Security representing all or such portion of the Securities of such series and provisions for the exchange of such temporary Global Security for one or more permanent Global Securities or definitive Securities of such series;

 

 

 

          (16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series, or any portion thereof, shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 204 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

 

 

          (17) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be subject to the optional interest reset provisions of Section 307(b);

 

 

 

          (18) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be subject to the optional extension of maturity provisions of Section 308;

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          (19) any deletion or addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502 or in any other remedies provided in Article Five;

 

 

 

          (20) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series;

 

 

 

          (21) the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

 

 

          (22) the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities of such series, if other than the Trustee;

 

 

 

          (23) the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such series into any other securities or property of the Company or of any other corporation or Person, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

 

 

          (24) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of the series are secured;

 

 

 

          (25) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

 

 

 

          (26) the exchanges, if any, on which the Securities may be listed; and

 

 

 

          (27) any other additional, eliminated or changed terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901).

          All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

          If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order setting forth the terms or the manner of determining the terms of the series.

          With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Board Resolution (or action taken pursuant thereto), Officer’s Certificate, Company Order or supplemental indenture referred to above may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a further Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company in accordance with other procedures specified in the Company Order contemplated by the third paragraph of Section 303.

          SECTION 302. Denominations.

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          The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

          SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

          The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Financial Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and attested by its Corporate Secretary, an Assistant Corporate Secretary, an Associate Secretary or an Attesting Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

          Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

          At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agents, promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

 

 

          (1) if the form or forms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form or forms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

 

 

          (2) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

 

 

 

          (3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

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If such forms or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued. This paragraph shall not be applicable to Securities of a series that are issued pursuant to the proviso to Section 301(2).

          Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

          With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

          No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 310, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

          SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

          Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series 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 evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

          If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

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          SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

          The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. If in accordance with Section 301(5), the Company designates a transfer agent (in addition to the Security Registrar) with respect to any series of Securities, the Company may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, provided that the Company maintains a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for such series. The Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of Securities.

          Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and 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 like tenor and 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.

          All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

          Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for 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.

          No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company and the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.

          If the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, neither the Trustee nor the Company shall be required, pursuant to the provisions of this Section 305, (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, any portion not to be redeemed.

          The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

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          (1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

 

 

          (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security, (ii) defaults in the performance of its duties as Depositary, or (iii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as depositary, in each case, unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days after receipt of such notice or after it has become aware of such default or cessation, (B) the Company in its sole discretion determines, subject to the procedures of the Depositary, that such Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

 

 

          (3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

 

 

          (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section 305, Section 304, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

          SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

          If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and shall cancel and dispose of such mutilated Security in accordance with its customary procedures.

          If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. If, after the delivery of such new Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to whom it was delivered or any party taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company and the Trustee in connection therewith and shall cancel and dispose of such new Security in accordance with its customary procedures.

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          In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

          Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 306, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) connected therewith.

          Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

          The provisions of this Section 306 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

          SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.

                    (a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security of any series which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series, except that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a Security shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial payment of interest on any Security of any series which is issued between a Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as provided in such Security or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate, Company Order or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the related series of Securities. Except in the case of a Global Security, at the option of the Company, interest on any series of Securities may be paid (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it shall appear on the Security Register of such series or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register of such series at least fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.

          Any Paying Agents will be identified in accordance with Section 301, except for the Trustee, who has been appointed as Paying Agent for the Securities as provided in the definition of “Paying Agent” contained in Section 101. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent; however, the Company at all times will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for each series of Securities.

          Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

 

 

          (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of which interest is in default (or

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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 Security of such series 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 provided in this Clause (1). Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, 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 so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

 

 

          (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Securities may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, 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.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

                    (b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security, such notice to contain the information to be included in the Trustee’s notice referred to in the following sentence. If the Company exercises such option, not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating that the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

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          Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).

          The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.

          Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307 and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

          SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity.

          The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond the date (the “Final Maturity”) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”), such notice to contain the information to be included in the Trustee’s notice referred to in the following sentence. If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee’s transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security.

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Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

          If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.

          SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners.

          Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and (subject to the record date provisions of Section 104) for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          SECTION 310. Cancellation.

          All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 310, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be treated in accordance with its document retention policies.

          SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended.

          Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

          The amount of interest (or amounts deemed to be interest under applicable law) payable or paid on any Security shall be limited to an amount which shall not exceed the maximum nonusurious rate of interest allowed by the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any applicable law of the United States permitting a higher maximum nonusurious rate that preempts such applicable New York law, which could lawfully be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received (the “Maximum Interest Rate”). If, as a result of any circumstances whatsoever, the Company or any other Person is deemed to have paid interest (or amounts deemed to be interest under applicable law) or any Holder of a Security is deemed to have contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received interest (or amounts deemed to be interest under applicable law), in excess of the Maximum Interest Rate, then, ipso facto, the obligation to

29


be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of validity, and if under any such circumstance, the Trustee, acting on behalf of the Holders, or any Holder shall ever receive interest or anything that might be deemed interest under applicable law that would exceed the Maximum Interest Rate, such amount that would be excessive interest shall be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on the applicable Security or Securities and not to the payment of interest, or if such excessive interest exceeds the unpaid principal balance of any such Security or Securities, such excess shall be refunded to the Company; provided that the Company and not the Trustee shall be responsible for collecting any such refund from the Holders. In addition, for purposes of determining whether payments in respect of any Security are usurious, all sums paid or agreed to be paid with respect to such Security for the use, forbearance or detention of money shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of such Security.

          SECTION 312. CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

          The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

          SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

          This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this Section 401), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

 

 

 

(1) either

 

 

 

          (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

 

 

 

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

 

 

 

 

          (i) have become due and payable, or

 

 

 

 

 

          (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or

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          (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

 

 

 

 

 

          and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

 

 

 

          (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

 

 

          (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

          Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

          SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.

          Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES

          SECTION 501. Events of Default.

          “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to the Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

 

 

          (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

 

 

          (2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

 

 

          (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

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          (4) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture with respect to a Security of that series (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under this Indenture; or

 

 

 

          (5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

 

 

          (6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment of a substantial part of its property for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

 

 

          (7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series,

          provided, however , that no event described in Clause (4) above shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder until a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or has received written notice thereof as contemplated in Section 602.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 501, if the principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a currency other than the currency of the United States of America and such currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in the currency of the United States of America in an amount equal to the currency of the United States of America equivalent of the amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the Trustee by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such currency (“Exchange Rate”), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

32


on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 501, any payment made under such circumstances in the currency of the United States of America where the required payment is in a currency other than the currency of the United States of America will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

          SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

          If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(7) which is common to all Outstanding series of Securities) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 501(7) which is common to all Outstanding series of Securities occurs and is continuing, then in such case, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class), by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.

          At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article Five, the Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:

 

 

 

 

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

 

 

 

 

          (A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of that series,

 

 

 

 

 

          (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

 

 

 

 

          (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

 

 

 

 

          (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

 

 

 

 

          (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

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          SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

 

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

 

 

          (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

 

 

 

          (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

 

 

          (3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

          the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, all amounts owing the Trustee, its agents and counsel under Section 607.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

          SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

          In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor Trustee under Section 607.

          No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however , that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

          SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

          All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any

34


proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 607, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

          SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

          Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article Five shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

          FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

          SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on such series of Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such series of Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

          THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

          SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.

          No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or other similar official), or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

 

 

          (1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

 

 

          (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

 

 

          (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

 

 

          (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

 

 

          (5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or

35


preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

          SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

          Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

          SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

          If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

          SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

          Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

          SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

          No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

          SECTION 512. Control by Holders.

          The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

 

 

          (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

 

 

          (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

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          (3) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.

          SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

          The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

 

 

          (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or

 

 

 

          (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

          Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

          SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.

          All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken 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 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; provided that the provisions of this Section 514 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder or group of Holders holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security.

          SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

          The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE

          SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

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          The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that (i) notwithstanding Section 315(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated in the certificates or opinions referred to therein, and (ii) except during the continuance of an Event of Default, no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

          SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.

          If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 602, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

          The Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series, except an Event of Default under Section 501(1), Section 501(2) or Section 501(3) hereof (provided, that the Trustee is the principal Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of such series), unless a Responsible Officer shall have received written notice of such Event of Default in accordance with Section 105 from the Company, any Subsidiary or the Holder of any Security, which notice states that the event referred to therein constitutes an Event of Default.

          SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

 

 

          (1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

 

 

          (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

 

 

          (3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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          (4) the Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

 

 

          (5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

 

 

          (6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

 

 

          (7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

 

 

          (8) the Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture;

 

 

 

          (9) in the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders of Securities of a series, each representing less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may determine what action, if any, shall be taken;

 

 

 

          (10) the Trustee’s immunities and protections from liability and its right to indemnification in connection with the performance of its duties under this Indenture shall extend to the Trustee’s officers, directors, agents and employees. Such immunities and protections and right to indemnification, together with the Trustee’s right to compensation, shall survive the Trustee’s resignation or removal and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;

 

 

 

          (11) except for information provided by the Trustee concerning the Trustee, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for any information in any offering memorandum or other disclosure material distributed with respect to the Securities, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for compliance with any state or federal securities laws in connection with the Securities;

 

 

 

          (12) the Trustee shall not be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

 

 

          (13) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes

39



 

 

 

or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services;

 

 

 

          (14) the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

 

 

          (15) the rights, privileges, protections and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Persons employed to act hereunder;

 

 

 

          (16) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded; and

 

 

 

          (17) the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.

          SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

          The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

          SECTION 605. May Hold Securities.

          The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

          SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust.

          Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

          SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

          The Company agrees:

 

 

 

          (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the Trustee shall agree in writing from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

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          (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

 

 

          (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct 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 of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.

          The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity under this Section 607. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and, in the event the subject matter of the claim involves a conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee, the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.

          As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

          Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, in the event the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in any proceedings which result from an Event of Default under Section 501(5) or (6), or from any default which, with the passage of time, would become such Event of Default, the expenses so incurred and compensation for services so rendered are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the United States Bankruptcy Code or equivalent law.

          SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests.

          If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series or by virtue of being trustee under the Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, and the Indenture dated as of December 1, 2005, between The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee.

          SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

          There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease

41


to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

          SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

          No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

          The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

          The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

          If at any time:

 

 

 

          (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

 

 

          (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, 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, (A) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

          If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent

42


supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

          The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

          SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

          In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

          In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustee’s co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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          Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

          No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article Six.

          SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

          Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated, and in case any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

          SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

          If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

 

 

          (a) “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks and payable upon demand; and

 

 

 

          (b) “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company (or any such obligor) for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security; provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company (or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

          SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

          The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the

44


Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.

          Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 614, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

          An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

          The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614.

          If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon,

 

 

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 

 

 


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as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 


 

 

Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

          SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

          The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

 

 

          (1) semi-annually, not later than January 15 and July 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the preceding January 1 or July 1 as the case may be, and

 

 

 

          (2) 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;

provided, however , that if and so long as the Trustee shall be Security Registrar for Securities of a series, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

          SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

          The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

          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 agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

          SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.

          The Trustee shall transmit to Holders 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 60 days after each May 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

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          A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

          SECTION 704. Reports by Company

          The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission.

          Delivery of any reports, information and documents by the Company to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 704 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of same shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of the covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

          SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

          The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

 

 

 

          (1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

 

 

          (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

 

 

          (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

          SECTION 802. Successor Substituted.

          Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which

47


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 (but not in the case of a lease) the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved and liquidated.

          Such successor Person may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to such provisions and any Securities which such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant to such provisions. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

          In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

          SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

          Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

 

 

          (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article Eight; or

 

 

 

          (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

 

 

          (3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

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          (4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

 

 

          (5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided, however, that if such addition, change or elimination shall adversely affect the interests of Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect, such addition, change or elimination shall become effective with respect to such series only when no such Security of such series remains Outstanding; or

 

 

 

          (6) 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; or

 

 

 

          (7) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

 

 

 

          (8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities; or

 

 

 

          (9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or

 

 

 

          (10) to cure any ambiguity, or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein; or

 

 

 

          (11) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

 

 

          (12) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

 

 

          (13) to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded; or

 

 

 

          (14) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities in any material respect; or

 

 

 

          (15) to provide for the payment by the Company of additional amounts in respect of taxes imposed on certain Holders and for the treatment of such additional amounts as interest and for all matters incidental thereto.

          SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

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          With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (treated as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

 

 

          (1) except to the extent permitted by Section 307(b) or Section 308 or otherwise specified in the form or terms of the Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 with respect to extending the Stated Maturity of any Security of such series, change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date), or

 

 

 

          (2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

 

 

          (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 1006, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1006, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(9), or

 

 

 

          (4) if the Securities of any series are convertible or exchangeable into any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert or exchange any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 901) or decrease the conversion or exchange rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such Security, or

 

 

 

          (5) if the Securities of any series are secured, change the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Securities of such series are secured in a manner adverse to the Holders of the secured Securities of such series in any material respect.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or

50


other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

          It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

          SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

          In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

          SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

          Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

          SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

          Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

          SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

          Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS

          SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

          The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

          SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

          The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of

51


that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company initially appoints the Trustee, acting through its Corporate Trust Office, as its agent for said purpose. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

          The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

          SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

          If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate to the extent required by law and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

          Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

          The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

          The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

          Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable

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may be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

          SECTION 1004. Statement by Officer as to Default.

          The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer’s Certificate, the signer of which shall be the principal executive, principal accounting or principal financial officer of the Company, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge.

          SECTION 1005. Existence.

          Subject to Article Eight and the Company’s ability to convert into a limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership under applicable law, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. On and after any conversion of the Company into a limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership under applicable law, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership existence, as applicable.

          SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

          Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(20), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Section 1005, if the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

          SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.

          Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

          SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

          The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Company Order or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any

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redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

          SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

          If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

          The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

          The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

          For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

          SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.

          Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

          With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP or ISIN numbers, if applicable) and shall state:

 

 

 

          (1) the Redemption Date,

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          (2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof,

 

 

 

          (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

 

 

          (4) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

 

 

          (5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and

 

 

 

          (6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

          Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph. Any such notice of redemption shall be irrevocable. 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, a 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.

          SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

          On or before the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 1104, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

          SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

          Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

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          If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal amount (together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Redemption Date) and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

          SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

          Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS

          SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

          The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

          The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum amount which is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

          SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

          The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

          SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

          Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by

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delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for any such credit and that such Securities have not previously been so credited and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS

          SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article.

          Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Thirteen.

          SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities.

          Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof and any premium thereon, together with interest thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of, the premium, if any, and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

          SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option.

          Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof and as provided in Sections 307(b) and 308, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

57


          SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

          If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article Thirteen and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, the principal amount of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest and/or premium, if any, to (but excluding) the Repayment Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

          If the principal amount of any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, such principal amount (together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to such Repayment Date) and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

          SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part.

          Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

          SECTION 1401. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

          The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1402 or Section 1403 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (unless designated pursuant to Section 301 as not being defeasible pursuant to such Section 1402 or 1403), in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Fourteen. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

          SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.

          Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section 1402 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section 1402 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the

58


expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section 1406, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article Fourteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section 1402 applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 1403 applied to such Securities.

          SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.

          Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section 1403 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(20), 704 (to the extent of any covenants in addition to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(20), 704 (to the extent of any covenants in addition to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act), 901(2) or 901(7)), shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section 1403 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

          SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

          The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

 

 

          (1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities or upon redemption, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation 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

59



 

 

 

States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

 

 

          (2) In the event of an election to have Section 1402 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

 

 

          (3) In the event of an election to have Section 1403 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

 

 

          (4) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

 

 

          (5) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

 

 

 

          (6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

 

 

          (7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

 

 

          (8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an agreement whereby the Company irrevocably agrees to forfeit its right, if any, (A) to reset the interest rate of such

60



 

 

 

Securities pursuant to Section 307(b) and (B) to extend the Stated Maturity of such Securities pursuant to Section 308.

 

 

 

          (9) If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made.

 

 

 

          (10) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

          SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee.

          Subject to Section 1407 below and after the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent referred to in Section 1404 relating to the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with, the Trustee upon request of the Company shall acknowledge in writing the Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be.

          SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

          Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section 1406, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

          The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

          Anything in this Article Fourteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1404 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

          SECTION 1407. Reinstatement.

          If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article Fourteen with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this

61


Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1402 or 1403 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred

          pursuant to this Article Fourteen with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1406 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article Fourteen; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

          SECTION 1408. Qualifying Trustee.

          Any trustee appointed pursuant to Section 1404 for the purpose of holding trust funds deposited pursuant to that Section shall be appointed under an agreement in form acceptable to the Trustee and shall provide to the Trustee a certificate of such trustee, upon which certificate the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely, that all conditions precedent provided for herein to the related Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any acts or omissions of said trustee.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

          SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability.

          No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, any Subsidiary or any successor corporation, either directly or through 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 this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations of the Company, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers, directors, or employees, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary or any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of such Securities.

62


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed and, in the case of the Company, attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer


 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

/s/ David P. Russell

 


 

Name: David P. Russell

 

Title: Attesting Secretary

 


 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

 

 


 

Name: Laurence J. O’Brien

 

Title: Vice President



Exhibit 4.2

October 9, 2012

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate
0.850% Notes due 2015

The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
101 Barclay Street
Floor 8W
New York, New York 10286

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Officer’s Certificate under Section 301 of the Indenture

Pursuant to Article Three of the Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), between General Electric Company (the “ Company ”) and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), the Board Resolutions dated as of September 2, 2011, June 8, 2012 and September 7, 2012, and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company dated as of September 26, 2012, of which copies certified by the Secretary or an Associate Secretary of the Company are being delivered herewith under Section 301 of the Indenture,

 

 

 

          A. The Company’s 0.850% Notes due 2015 (the “ Notes ”) are hereby established. The Notes shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex 1.

 

 

 

          B. The terms and characteristics of the Notes shall be as follows (the numbered clauses set forth below corresponding to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture, with terms used and not defined herein having the meanings specified in the Indenture) and as shall be set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Annex 1:


 

 

 

          (1) the title of the Notes shall be “0.850% Notes due 2015”;

 

 

 

          (2) the aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $2,000,000,000 (except as provided in Section 301(2) of the Indenture); provided, however, that such authorized aggregate principal amount may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Notes may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Notes and the original Notes are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

 

 

          (3) the date on which the principal of the Notes shall be payable shall be October 9, 2015;




 

 

 

          (4) the Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 0.850% per annum. Interest shall accrue from the original issue date of the Notes. The Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable shall be April 9 and October 9 of each year, commencing on April 9, 2013. The Regular Record Date for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of such Notes shall be paid; interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of the Notes, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be;

 

 

 

          (5) (a) the principal of and any premium or interest on the Notes shall be payable at, (b) the Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange at, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, currently located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W;

 

 

 

          (6) the Notes shall be redeemable at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points;

 

 

 

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

 

 

With respect to the foregoing, “ Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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.

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing

2



 

 

 

new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

 

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

 

 

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the foregoing redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation;

 

 

 

          (7) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (8) the Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

 

 

          (9) not applicable

 

 

 

          (10) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (11) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (12) not applicable;

3



 

 

 

          (13) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (14) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (15) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (16) (a) the Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities; (b) the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”); and (c) the procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of Global Securities shall be as set forth in the Indenture;

 

 

 

          (17) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (18) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (19) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (20) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (21) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (22) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (23) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (24) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (25) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (26) not applicable; and

 

 

 

          (27) any other information necessary to complete the Notes shall be as set forth in the Notes or herein.

Company Order under Section 303 of the Indenture

 

 

 

          A. You are hereby requested to authenticate on the date hereof $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes, heretofore delivered to you and duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC in accordance with the Blanket Issuer Letter of Representations dated October 23, 2003, in the manner provided by the Indenture.

 

 

 

          B. You are hereby requested to hold the Notes as custodian for DTC.

 

 

 

          C. Concurrently with this Company Order, an Opinion of Counsel under Sections 102 and 303 of the Indenture is being delivered to you.

4


Officer’s Certificate under Section 102 of the Indenture

The undersigned, Kathryn A. Cassidy, the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company, does hereby certify that:

 

 

 

          (1) I have read the relevant portions of the Indenture, including without limitation the conditions precedent provided for therein relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested in this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto;

 

 

 

          (2) I have read the Board Resolutions and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Opinion of Counsel referred to above;

 

 

 

          (3) I have conferred with other officers of the Company, have examined such records of the Company and have made such other investigation as I deemed relevant for purposes of this certificate;

 

 

 

          (4) in my opinion, I have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable me to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such conditions have been complied with;

 

 

 

          (5) on the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested herein have been complied with; and

 

 

 

          (6) the form and terms of the Notes have been established in conformity with the provisions of the Indenture.

5


Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, including the documents listed herein, and confirm the arrangements set forth herein by signing and returning the copy of this document attached hereto. By signing below, the Trustee agrees to the terms and conditions set forth hereinabove.

Very truly yours,

Company Order:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

Officer’s Certificate:

 

 

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 


Acknowledged by Trustee:

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

 

 


 

 

     Authorized Officer

 

 


ANNEX 1

 

[Form of Note]

 

 

 


Exhibit 4.3

October 9, 2012

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate
2.700% Notes due 2022

The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
101 Barclay Street
Floor 8W
New York, New York 10286

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Officer’s Certificate under Section 301 of the Indenture

Pursuant to Article Three of the Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), between General Electric Company (the “ Company ”) and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), the Board Resolutions dated as of September 2, 2011, June 8, 2012 and September 7, 2012, and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company dated as of September 26, 2012, of which copies certified by the Secretary or an Associate Secretary of the Company are being delivered herewith under Section 301 of the Indenture,

 

 

 

 

          A. The Company’s 2.700% Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”) are hereby established. The Notes shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex 1.

 

 

 

 

          B. The terms and characteristics of the Notes shall be as follows (the numbered clauses set forth below corresponding to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture, with terms used and not defined herein having the meanings specified in the Indenture) and as shall be set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Annex 1:

 

 

 

 

 

          (1) the title of the Notes shall be “2.700% Notes due 2022”;

 

 

 

 

 

          (2) the aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $3,000,000,000 (except as provided in Section 301(2) of the Indenture); provided, however, that such authorized aggregate principal amount may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Notes may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Notes and the original Notes are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes

 

 

 

 

 

          (3) the date on which the principal of the Notes shall be payable shall be October 9, 2022;




 

 

 

 

 

          (4) the Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 2.700% per annum. Interest shall accrue from the original issue date of the Notes. The Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable shall be April 9 and October 9 of each year, commencing on April 9, 2013. The Regular Record Date for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of such Notes shall be paid; interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of the Notes, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be;

 

 

 

 

 

          (5) (a) the principal of and any premium or interest on the Notes shall be payable at, (b) the Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange at, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes or the Indenture may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, currently located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W;

 

 

 

 

 

          (6) the Notes shall be redeemable at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 15 basis points;

 

 

 

 

 

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

 

 

 

 

With respect to the foregoing, “ Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing

2



 

 

 

 

 

new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

 

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

 

 

 

 

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the foregoing redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation;

 

 

 

 

 

          (7) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (8) the Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

 

 

 

 

          (9) not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

          (10) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (11) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (12) not applicable;

3



 

 

 

 

 

          (13) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (14) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (15) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (16) (a) the Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities; (b) the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”); and (c) the procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of Global Securities shall be as set forth in the Indenture;

 

 

 

 

 

          (17) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (18) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (19) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (20) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (21) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (22) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (23) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (24) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (25) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (26) not applicable; and

 

 

 

 

 

          (27) any other information necessary to complete the Notes shall be as set forth in the Notes or herein.


 

 

 

Company Order under Section 303 of the Indenture

 

 

 

 

          A. You are hereby requested to authenticate on the date hereof $3,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes, heretofore delivered to you and duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC in accordance with the Blanket Letter of Representations dated October 23, 2003, in the manner provided by the Indenture.

 

 

 

 

          B. You are hereby requested to hold the Notes as custodian for DTC.

 

 

 

 

          C. Concurrently with this Company Order, an Opinion of Counsel under Sections 102 and 303 of the Indenture is being delivered to you.

 

 

 

4



 

 

 

Officer’s Certificate under Section 102 of the Indenture

 

The undersigned, Kathryn A. Cassidy, the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company, does hereby certify that:

 

 

 

 

 

          (1) I have read the relevant portions of the Indenture, including without limitation the conditions precedent provided for therein relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested in this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto;

 

 

 

 

 

          (2) I have read the Board Resolutions and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Opinion of Counsel referred to above;

 

 

 

 

 

          (3) I have conferred with other officers of the Company, have examined such records of the Company and have made such other investigation as I deemed relevant for purposes of this certificate;

 

 

 

 

 

          (4) in my opinion, I have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable me to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such conditions have been complied with;

 

 

 

 

 

          (5) on the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested herein have been complied with; and

 

 

 

 

 

          (6) the form and terms of the Notes have been established in conformity with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

 

 

5


Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, including the documents listed herein, and confirm the arrangements set forth herein by signing and returning the copy of this document attached hereto. By signing below, the Trustee agrees to the terms and conditions set forth hereinabove.

Very truly yours,

Company Order:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Officer’s Certificate:

 

 

 

 

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 



 

 

 

Acknowledged by Trustee:

 

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

 

 


 

 

    Authorized Officer

 

 


ANNEX 1

[Form of Note]

 


Exhibit 4.4

October 9, 2012

Company Order and Officer’s Certificate
4.125% Notes due 2042

The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
101 Barclay Street
Floor 8W
New York, New York 10286

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Officer’s Certificate under Section 301 of the Indenture

Pursuant to Article Three of the Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), between General Electric Company (the “ Company ”) and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), the Board Resolutions dated as of September 2, 2011, June 8, 2012 and September 7, 2012, and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company dated as of September 26, 2012, of which copies certified by the Secretary or an Associate Secretary of the Company are being delivered herewith under Section 301 of the Indenture,

 

 

 

 

          A. The Company’s 4.125% Notes due 2042 (the “ Notes ”) are hereby established. The Notes shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex 1.

 

 

 

          B. The terms and characteristics of the Notes shall be as follows (the numbered clauses set forth below corresponding to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture, with terms used and not defined herein having the meanings specified in the Indenture) and as shall be set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Annex 1:

 

 

 

 

 

          (1) the title of the Notes shall be “4.125% Notes due 2042”;

 

 

 

 

 

          (2) the aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $2,000,000,000 (except as provided in Section 3(2) of the Indenture); provided, however, that such authorized aggregate principal amount may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Notes may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Notes and the original Notes are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

 

 

 

 

          (3) the date on which the principal of the Notes shall be payable shall be October 9, 2042;




 

 

 

 

 

          (4) the Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.125% per annum. Interest shall accrue from the original issue date of the Notes. The Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable shall be April 9 and October 9 of each year, commencing on April 9, 2013. The Regular Record Date for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the March 25 and September 24, as the case may be (in each case, whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of such Notes shall be paid; interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of the Notes, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be;

 

 

 

 

 

          (5) (a) the principal of and any premium or interest on the Notes shall be payable at, (b) the Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange at, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, currently located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W;

 

 

 

 

 

          (6) the Notes shall be redeemable at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 20 basis points;

 

 

 

 

 

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

 

 

 

 

With respect to the foregoing, “ Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing

2



 

 

 

new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

 

 

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

 

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

 

 

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the foregoing redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation;

 

 

 

          (7) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (8) the Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

 

 

          (9) not applicable

 

 

 

          (10) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (11) not applicable;

 

 

 

          (12) not applicable;

3



 

 

 

 

 

          (13) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (14) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (15) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (16) (a) the Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities; (b) the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”); and (c) the procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of Global Securities shall be as set forth in the Indenture;

 

 

 

 

 

          (17) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (18) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (19) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (20) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (21) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (22) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (23) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (24) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (25) not applicable;

 

 

 

 

 

          (26) not applicable; and

 

 

 

 

 

          (27) any other information necessary to complete the Notes shall be as set forth in the Notes or herein.

 

 

 

Company Order under Section 303 of the Indenture

 

 

 

 

          A. You are hereby requested to authenticate on the date hereof $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Notes due 2042, heretofore delivered to you and duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC in accordance with the Blanket Letter of Representations dated October 23, 2003, in the manner provided by the Indenture.

 

 

 

 

          B. You are hereby requested to hold the Notes as custodian for DTC.

 

 

 

 

          C. Concurrently with this Company Order, an Opinion of Counsel under Sections 102 and 303 of the Indenture is being delivered to you.

 

4


Officer’s Certificate under Section 102 of the Indenture

The undersigned, Kathryn A. Cassidy, the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company, does hereby certify that:

 

 

 

 

 

          (1) I have read the relevant portions of the Indenture, including without limitation the conditions precedent provided for therein relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested in this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto;

 

 

 

 

 

          (2) I have read the Board Resolutions and the Unanimous Written Consent of the Funding Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Opinion of Counsel referred to above;

 

 

 

 

 

          (3) I have conferred with other officers of the Company, have examined such records of the Company and have made such other investigation as I deemed relevant for purposes of this certificate;

 

 

 

 

 

          (4) in my opinion, I have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable me to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such conditions have been complied with;

 

 

 

 

 

          (5) on the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested herein have been complied with; and

 

 

 

 

 

          (6) the form and terms of the Notes have been established in conformity with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

5


Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Company Order and Officer’s Certificate, including the documents listed herein, and confirm the arrangements set forth herein by signing and returning the copy of this document attached hereto. By signing below, the Trustee agrees to the terms and conditions set forth hereinabove.

Very truly yours,

Company Order:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

 


 

Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

Officer’s Certificate:

 

 

/s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy

 


Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 


Acknowledged by Trustee:

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

 

 


 

 

     Authorized Officer

 

 


ANNEX 1

[Form of Note]

 


Exhibit 4.5

          Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment 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 inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

          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 MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT 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.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

0.850% Note due 2015

 

 

No. [    ]

$[               ]

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 369604BE2

          General Electric Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [               ] ($[               ]) on October 9, 2015, and to pay interest thereon from October 9, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 9 and October 9 in each year, commencing April 9, 2013, at the rate of 0.850% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the 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 the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be


the March 25 or September 24 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of the principal hereof or on a Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of this Security is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register at least fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

 

 

Dated:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $2,000,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Securities of this series may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Securities and the original Securities of this series are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

          The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’, but not more than 60 days’, notice by mail, at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

          With respect to the foregoing, “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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. “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities. “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations. “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer,


the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer. “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

          In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

          The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, treated as one class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after


receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.


          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

Date:

The Bank of New York Mellon,

 

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory



Exhibit 4.6

          Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment 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 inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

          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 MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT 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.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

2.700% Note due 2022

 

 

No. [    ]

$[               ]

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 369604BD4

          General Electric Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [               ] ($[               ]) on October 9, 2022, and to pay interest thereon from October 9, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 9 and October 9 in each year, commencing April 9, 2013, at the rate of 2.700% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the 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 the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be


the March 25 or September 24 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of the principal hereof or on a Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of this Security is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register at least fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

 

 

Dated:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $3,000,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Securities of this series may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Securities and the original Securities of this series are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

          The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’, but not more than 60 days’, notice by mail, at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 15 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

          With respect to the foregoing, “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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. “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities. “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations. “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer,


the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer. “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

          In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

          The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, treated as one class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after


receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.


          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

Date:

The Bank of New York Mellon,

 

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory



Exhibit 4.7

          Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment 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 inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

          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 MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT 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.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

4.125% Note due 2042

 

 

No. [    ]

$[               ]

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 369604BF9

          General Electric Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [               ] ($[               ]) on October 9, 2042, and to pay interest thereon from October 9, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 9 and October 9 in each year, commencing April 9, 2013, at the rate of 4.125% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the 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 the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be


the March 25 or September 24 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of the principal hereof or on a Redemption Date shall be payable to the Person to whom the principal of this Security is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register at least fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

 

 

Dated:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $2,000,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect; and provided further, that additional Securities of this series may not be issued under the same CUSIP number unless such additional Securities and the original Securities of this series are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

          The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’, but not more than 60 days’, notice by mail, at any time and from time to time, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed; and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest and principal thereon (exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 20 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

          With respect to the foregoing, “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual 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. “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities. “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations. “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their respective affiliates, which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), and their respective successors plus three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer,


the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer. “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

          In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

          The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, treated as one class. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after


receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.


          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 

 

Date:

The Bank of New York Mellon,

 

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory



Exhibit 5.1

October 9, 2012

General Electric Company
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828-0001

 

 

Re:

General Electric Company

 

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177804)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to General Electric Company, a New York corporation (the “ Company ”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-177804 (the “ Registration Statement ”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), the prospectus included therein, the prospectus supplement, dated October 1, 2012, filed with the Commission on October 2, 2012 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”), and the offering by the Company pursuant thereto of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 0.850% Notes due 2015 (the “ 2015 Notes ”), $3,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.700% Notes due 2022 (the “ 2022 Notes ”) and $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.125% Notes due 2042 (the “ 2042 Notes ” and together with the 2015 Notes and the 2022 Notes, the “ Notes ”).

The Notes have been issued pursuant to the senior note indenture, dated as of October 9, 2012 (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by the company orders and officer’s certificates, dated October 9, 2012, relating to the Notes (the “ Company Orders and Officer’s Certificates ” and together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) between the Company and the Trustee.

In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the Base Indenture, Company Orders and Officer’s Certificates and the Notes and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed, without independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to this opinion, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.


General Electric Company
October 9, 2012
Page 2

The opinion expressed above is subject to the following additional exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

                    A. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and to the extent relevant for our opinion herein , the New York Business Corporation Law. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of New York and the New York Business Corporation Law and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

                    B. The opinion above is subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including without limitation the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

                    C. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights, (ii) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities laws (iii) any provision waiving the right to object to venue in any court; or (iv) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any Federal court; (v) any waiver of the right to jury trial.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the captions “Validity of the Securities” and “Validity of the Notes” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, respectively. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP