Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010

Registration Statement No. 333-152892

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Assured Guaranty Ltd.*
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  98-0429991
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

30 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda
Telephone: (441) 279-5700


(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

 

Assured Guaranty Corp.
31 West 52 nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn: General Counsel
Telephone: (212) 974-0100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

20-1082002
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

31 West 52 nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Telephone: (212) 974-0100


(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

 

Assured Guaranty Corp.
31 West 52 nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn: General Counsel
Telephone: (212) 974-0100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.
(formerly known as Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.)
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  13-3261323
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
Telephone: (212) 974-0100


(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

 

Assured Guaranty Corp.
31 West 52 nd  Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn: General Counsel
Telephone: (212) 974-0100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)




Copies to:
James M. Michener
General Counsel and Secretary
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
30 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda
(441) 279-5702
  Edward S. Best
Mayer Brown LLP
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 782-0600



Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public:
From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

           If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.     o

           If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.     ý

           If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

           If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

           If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.     ý

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.     o

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ý   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company  o

*
Additional eligible registrants may be added by automatically effective post-effective amendments pursuant to Rule 462(f).

(Continued on next page)


Table of Contents

(Continued from previous page)


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered*

  /Amount to be Registered(1)(2) / Proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit(2) / Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(2) /
Amount of registration fee

 
Common Shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.(3)    
Preferred Shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.(4)    
Depositary Shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.(5)    
Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty Ltd.(6)    
Warrants to Purchase Common or Preferred Shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.   (1)(2)
Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty Ltd.    
Stock Purchase Contracts of Assured Guaranty Ltd.    
Stock Purchase Units of Assured Guaranty Ltd.(7)    
Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.(6)    
Guarantee of Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. by Assured Guaranty Ltd.(8)    
Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.(6)    
Guarantee of Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. by Assured Guaranty Ltd.(8)    
 
*
Additional securities (including securities to be issued by additional registrants) may be added by automatically effective post-effective amendments pursuant to Rule 413.

(1)
An indeterminate number or amount of common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units of Assured Guaranty Ltd., and debt securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. Securities registered, referred to as the offered securities, may be sold separately, together or as units with other offered securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for $3,726 that has already been paid with respect to $31,659,020 aggregate initial offering price of securities that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-125382 and were not sold thereunder and $43,378 (out of a total of $58,596) that has already been paid with respect to 24,850,000 common shares that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-125383 and were not sold thereunder.

(2)
Unless otherwise indicated in an amendment to this filing, no separate consideration will be received for common shares, preferred shares or debt securities that are issued by Assured Guaranty Ltd. or Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. upon conversion or exchange of debt securities, preferred shares or depositary shares registered under this registration statement.

(3)
Also includes the presently indeterminate number of common shares as may be issued by Assured Guaranty Ltd. (a) upon conversion of or exchange for any debt securities or preferred shares that provide for conversion or exchange into common shares, (b) upon exercise of warrants to purchase common shares or (c) pursuant to stock purchase contracts.

(4)
Also includes the presently indeterminate number of preferred shares as may be issued by Assured Guaranty Ltd. (a) upon conversion of or exchange for any debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange into preferred shares, (b) upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred shares or (c) pursuant to stock purchase contracts.

(5)
To be represented by depositary receipts representing an interest in all or a specified portion of a common share or preferred share.

(6)
Subject to note (1), an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated.

(7)
Each stock purchase unit consists of (a) a stock purchase contract under which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase an indeterminate number of common shares and (b) a beneficial interest in debt securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third parties purchased with the proceeds from the sale of the stock purchase units. Each beneficial interest will be pledged to secure the obligation of the holder to purchase the common shares. No separate consideration will be received for the stock purchase contract or the related beneficial interests.

(8)
No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees of the debt securities issued by Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.


Explanatory Note

          This Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Assured Guaranty Ltd. and Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. is being filed to include Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. as an additional registrant, to update other information and to submit additional exhibits.


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

         GRAPHIC


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities,
Warrants to Purchase Common Shares,
Warrants to Purchase Preferred Shares,
Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts and
Stock Purchase Units



Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.

Debt Securities
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

Assured Guaranty Ltd.



Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.

Debt Securities
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

Assured Guaranty Ltd.



        Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.

        Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AGO."

        None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

        This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of offered securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.



        NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY OTHER REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.



The date of this prospectus is March 30, 2010.




Table of Contents

        You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement. None of the registrants has authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. The securities offered by this prospectus are being offered only in states where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. The business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of Assured Guaranty Ltd. and its subsidiaries may have changed since that date.

        Assured Guaranty Ltd. has obtained consent from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of shares to and between persons regarded as non-resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes and for the issue and transfer of options, warrants, depositary receipts, rights, loan notes and other securities, subject to the condition that our shares are listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Issues and transfers of shares to any person regarded as resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes may require specific prior approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. The Bermuda Monetary Authority accepts no responsibility for the financial soundness of any proposal or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.

        Any person who, directly or indirectly, becomes a holder of at least 10 percent, 20 percent, 33 percent, or 50 percent of the common shares must notify the Bermuda Monetary Authority in writing within 45 days of becoming such a holder or 30 days from the date they have knowledge of having such a holding, whichever is later. The Bermuda Monetary Authority may, by written notice, object to such a person if it appears to the Bermuda Monetary Authority that the person is not fit and proper to be such a holder. The Bermuda Monetary Authority may require the holder to reduce their holding of common shares in Assured Guaranty Ltd. and direct, among other things, that voting rights attaching to the common shares shall not be exercisable. A person that does not comply with such a notice or direction from the Bermuda Monetary Authority will be guilty of an offence.

        For so long as Assured Guaranty Ltd. has as a subsidiary an insurer registered under the Insurance Act 1978 (as amended) of Bermuda, the Bermuda Monetary Authority may at any time, by written notice, object to a person holding 10 percent or more of Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s common shares if it appears to the Bermuda Monetary Authority that the person is not or is no longer fit and proper to be such a holder. In such a case, the Bermuda Monetary Authority may require the shareholder to reduce its holding of common shares in Assured Guaranty Ltd. and direct, among other things, that such shareholder's voting rights attaching to the common shares shall not be exercisable. A person who does not comply with such a notice or direction from the Bermuda Monetary Authority will be guilty of an offence.

        Before a person can acquire control of a U.S.-domiciled insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the states where the insurer is domiciled or deemed commercially domiciled. Generally, state statutes provide that control over an insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, 10% or more of the voting securities of the insurer. Because a person acquiring 10% or more of our common shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of our U.S. insurance company subsidiaries, the insurance change of control laws of Maryland and New York would likely apply to such a transaction. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of an insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant's Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the management of the applicant's Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the future operations of the insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control.

        The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") regulates the acquisition of "control" of any UK insurance company authorized under FSMA. Any company or individual that (together with its or his associates) directly or indirectly acquires 10% or more of the shares in a UK authorized insurance company or its parent company, or is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10% or


Table of Contents


more of the voting power in such authorized insurance company or its parent company, would be considered to have acquired "control" for the purposes of the relevant legislation, as would a person who had significant influence over the management of such authorized insurance company or its parent company by virtue of his shareholding or voting power in either. Under FSMA, any person proposing to acquire "control" of a UK authorized insurance company must give prior notification to the Financial Services Authority ("FSA UK") of its intention to do so. The FSA UK then has three months to consider that person's application to acquire "control." In considering whether to approve such application, the FSA UK must be satisfied that both the acquirer is a "fit and proper" person to have "control" and that the interests of consumers would not be threatened by such acquisition of "control." "Consumers" in this context includes all persons who may use the services of the authorized insurance company. Failure to make the relevant prior application could result in action being taken by the FSA UK.

        In this prospectus, references to "dollars" and "$" are to United States currency, and the terms "United States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America, its states, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

  3

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

  3

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD. 

  4

ASSURED GUARANTY US HOLDINGS INC. 

  5

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC. 

  5

USE OF PROCEEDS

  5

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES OF THE COMPANY

  5

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES

  6

DESCRIPTION OF AGL SHARE CAPITAL

  6

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES

  16

DESCRIPTION OF THE AGL DEBT SECURITIES

  18

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSURED GUARANTY US HOLDINGS DEBT SECURITIES AND AGL GUARANTEE

  29

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS DEBT SECURITIES AND AGL GUARANTEE

  45

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS TO PURCHASE AGL COMMON SHARES OR PREFERRED SHARES

  61

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES

  64

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

  65

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

  65

LEGAL MATTERS

  67

EXPERTS

  68

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER MATTERS

  68

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

  69

2


Table of Contents


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("AGL," "we," "us" or "our" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), Assured Guaranty US Holdings and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., formerly known as Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. ("Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a "shelf" registration process, relating to the common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, debt securities, debt securities guarantee, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units described in this prospectus. Under this shelf process, any or all of AGL, Assured Guaranty US Holdings and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities AGL, Assured Guaranty US Holdings or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may offer. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For additional information regarding AGL, Assured Guaranty US Holdings and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and the offered securities, please refer to the registration statement. Each time AGL, Assured Guaranty US Holdings or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings sells securities, it will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus, including the documents AGL incorporates by reference, contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to us specifically and the insurance and reinsurance industries in general. Statements which include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "may," "will," "continue," "further," "seek," and similar words or statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The Company believes that these factors include the following:

3


Table of Contents

        The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive, and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

        If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the Company's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what the Company projected. Any forward-looking statements you read in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity.

        For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.

        AGL is a Bermuda-based holding company that provides, through its operating subsidiaries, credit protection products to the public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets in the U.S. as well as internationally. The Company applies its credit underwriting expertise, risk management skills and capital markets experience to develop insurance, reinsurance and credit derivative products. The Company's principal product is a guaranty of principal and interest payments on debt securities issued by governmental entities such as U.S. state or municipal authorities; obligations issued for international infrastructure projects; and asset-backed securities issued by special purpose entities. The Company markets its protection products against principal and interest payment default directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance, infrastructure and structured finance securities as well as directly to investors in such debt obligations. The Company serves various global debt capital markets, although its principal focus is in the U.S. and Europe. Its principal executive offices are at 30 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda, and its telephone number is (441) 279-5700.

4


Table of Contents

        Our principal operating subsidiaries are Assured Guaranty Corp. ("AGC"), Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. ("AGM") and Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. ("AG Re").

        AGC, an insurance company located in New York and domiciled in Maryland, was organized in 1985 and commenced operations in January 1988. It provides insurance and reinsurance that protects against principal and interest payment defaults on debt obligations rated investment-grade ("IG") at inception, in either financial guaranty or credit derivative contract form in the U.S. public finance and the global infrastructure and structured finance markets.

        AGM, an insurance company located and domiciled in New York, was organized in 1984 and commenced operations in 1985. It now only provides insurance and reinsurance that protects against principal and interest payment defaults on debt obligations rated IG at inception in the U.S. public finance and global infrastructure market. Previously, AGM also offered insurance and reinsurance in the global structured finance market.

        AG Re is incorporated under the laws of Bermuda and is licensed as a Class 3B Insurer and a Long-Term Insurer under the Insurance Act 1978 and related regulations of Bermuda. AG Re writes business as a reinsurer of third-party primary insurers and as reinsurer/retrocessionaire of certain affiliated companies. Under a reinsurance agreement, the reinsurer, in consideration of a premium paid to it, agrees to indemnify another insurer, called the ceding company, for part or all of the liability of the ceding company under one or more insurance policies that the ceding company has issued.


ASSURED GUARANTY US HOLDINGS INC.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. was formed as a holding company to hold the shares of AGC and AG Financial Products Inc. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL and was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in February 2004. Its principal executive offices are at 31 West 52 nd  Street, New York, New York, and its telephone number is (212) 974-0100.


ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.

        On July 1, 2009, AGL, through Assured Guaranty US Holdings, purchased Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and, indirectly, all of its subsidiaries other than those involved in its financial products business, including its principal operating subsidiary, the financial guaranty insurance company, Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., formerly known as Financial Security Assurance Inc. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is now a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL. It was formed under the laws of the State of New York. Its principal executive offices are at 31 West 52 nd  Street, New York, New York, and its telephone number is (212) 974-0100.


USE OF PROCEEDS

        Unless otherwise disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement, AGL, Assured Guaranty US Holdings and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, expansion of our net underwriting capacity and acquisitions.


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES OF THE COMPANY

        For purposes of computing the following ratios, earnings consist of net income (loss) before income tax expense, excluding interest costs capitalized, plus fixed charges to the extent that these charges are included in the determination of earnings. Fixed charges consist of interest costs, including interest costs capitalized, plus one-third of minimum rental payments under operating leases, which are estimated by management to be the interest factor of these rentals. Because the Company paid no preferred share dividends during any of the periods presented, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed

5


Table of Contents


charges and preferred share dividends is identical to the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods presented.

 
  Fiscal year Ended December 31,  
 
  2009   2008   2007   2006   2005  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

    3.00 x   5.46 x     (a)   13.84 x   16.83 x

(a)
Due to the Company's loss in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges coverage for that period was less than 1:1. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of $463.0 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 to have achieved a ratio of earnings to fixed charges coverage for that period of 1:1.


GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES

        The Company may, from time to time, offer under this prospectus, separately or together:

    common shares,

    preferred shares, which may be represented by depositary shares as described below,

    unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities,

    warrants to purchase common shares,

    warrants to purchase preferred shares,

    warrants to purchase debt securities,

    stock purchase contracts to purchase common shares, and

    stock purchase units, each representing ownership of a stock purchase contract and, as security for the holder's obligation to purchase common shares under the stock purchase contract, any of: debt securities of AGL; debt securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AGL; debt securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AGL; or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may, from time to time, offer unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AGL.


DESCRIPTION OF AGL SHARE CAPITAL

        The following summary of our share capital is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of Bermuda law, our memorandum of association and Bye-Laws, copies of which are incorporated by reference to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

        We have an authorized share capital of $5,000,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares, par value U.S. $0.01 per share, of which 184,558,608 common shares were issued and outstanding as of March 16, 2010, including 219,669 unvested restricted common shares. Except as described below, our common shares have no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for additional common shares, no rights of redemption, conversion or exchange and no sinking fund rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our common shares are entitled to share equally, in proportion to the number of common shares held by such holder, in our assets, if any remain after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred

6


Table of Contents


shares. Under certain circumstances, we have the right to purchase all or a portion of the shares held by a shareholder. See "—Acquisition of Common Shares by Us" below. All of the common and preferred shares being issued pursuant to this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of our common shares are entitled to receive such dividends as lawfully may be declared from time to time by our board of directors.

Voting Rights and Adjustments

        In general, and except as provided below, shareholders have one vote for each common share held by them and are entitled to vote with respect to their fully paid shares at all meetings of shareholders. However, if, and so long as, the common shares (and other of our shares) of a shareholder are treated as "controlled shares" (as determined pursuant to section 958 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Code) of any "United States person" as defined in the Code (a "U.S. Person") and such controlled shares constitute 9.5% or more of the votes conferred by our issued and outstanding shares, the voting rights with respect to the controlled shares owned by such U.S. Person shall be limited, in the aggregate, to a voting power of less than 9.5% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares, under a formula specified in our Bye-laws. The formula is applied repeatedly until there is no U.S. Person whose controlled shares constitute 9.5% or more of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares and who generally would be required to recognize income with respect to us under the Code if we were a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the Code and if the ownership threshold under the Code were 9.5% (as defined in our Bye-Laws as a "9.5% U.S. Shareholder"). In addition, our board of directors may determine that shares held carry different voting rights when it deems it appropriate to do so to (i) avoid the existence of any 9.5% U.S. Shareholder; and (ii) avoid adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to us or any of our subsidiaries or any direct or indirect holder of shares or its affiliates. "Controlled shares" includes, among other things, all shares of AGL that such U.S. Person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of section 958 of the Code). These provisions do not apply in the event one shareholder owns greater than 75% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares.

        Under these provisions, certain shareholders may have their voting rights limited to less than one vote per share, while other shareholders may have voting rights in excess of one vote per share. Moreover, these provisions could have the effect of reducing the votes of certain shareholders who would not otherwise be subject to the 9.5% limitation by virtue of their direct share ownership. Our Bye-laws provide that we will use our best efforts to notify shareholders of their voting interests prior to any vote to be taken by them.

        Our board of directors is authorized to require any shareholder to provide information for purposes of determining whether any holder's voting rights are to be adjusted, which may be information on beneficial share ownership, the names of persons having beneficial ownership of the shareholder's shares, relationships with other shareholders or any other facts our board of directors may deem relevant. If any holder fails to respond to this request or submits incomplete or inaccurate information, our board of directors may eliminate the shareholder's voting rights. All information provided by the shareholder will be treated by us as confidential information and shall be used by us solely for the purpose of establishing whether any 9.5% U.S. Shareholder exists and applying the adjustments to voting power (except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation).

Restrictions on Transfer of Common Shares

        Each transfer must comply with current Bermuda Monetary Authority permission or have specific permission from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Our board of directors may decline to register a transfer of any common shares under certain circumstances, including if they have reason to believe that any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to us, any of our subsidiaries or any of our shareholders or indirect holders of shares or its Affiliates may occur as a result of such transfer (other

7


Table of Contents


than such as our board of directors considers de minimis). Transfers must be by instrument unless otherwise permitted by the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Companies Act.

        The restrictions on transfer and voting restrictions described above may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of AGL.

        Before a person can acquire control of a U.S.-domiciled insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the states where the insurer is domiciled or deemed commercially domiciled. Generally, state statutes provide that control over an insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, 10% or more of the voting securities of the insurer. Because a person acquiring 10% or more of our common shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of our U.S. insurance company subsidiaries, the insurance change of control laws of Maryland and New York would likely apply to such a transaction. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of an insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant's Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the management of the applicant's Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the future operations of the insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control.

        The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") regulates the acquisition of "control" of any UK insurance company authorized under FSMA. Any company or individual that (together with its or his associates) directly or indirectly acquires 10% or more of the shares in a UK authorized insurance company or its parent company, or is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10% or more of the voting power in such authorized insurance company or its parent company, would be considered to have acquired "control" for the purposes of the relevant legislation, as would a person who had significant influence over the management of such authorized insurance company or its parent company by virtue of his shareholding or voting power in either. Under FSMA, any person proposing to acquire "control" of a UK authorized insurance company must give prior notification to the FSA UK of its intention to do so. The FSA UK then has three months to consider that person's application to acquire "control." In considering whether to approve such application, the FSA UK must be satisfied that both the acquirer is a "fit and proper" person to have "control" and that the interests of consumers would not be threatened by such acquisition of "control." "Consumers" in this context includes all persons who may use the services of the authorized insurance company. Failure to make the relevant prior application could result in action being taken by the FSA UK.

Acquisition of Common Shares by Us

        Under our Bye-Laws and subject to Bermuda law, if our board of directors determines that any ownership of our shares may result in adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to us, any of our subsidiaries or any of our shareholders or indirect holders of shares or its affiliates (other than such as our board of directors considers de minimis), we have the option, but not the obligation, to require such shareholder to sell to us or to a third party to whom we assign the repurchase right the minimum number of common shares necessary to avoid or cure any such adverse consequences at a price determined in the discretion of the board of directors to represent the shares' fair market value (as defined in our Bye-Laws).

Issuance of Shares

        Subject to our Bye-Laws and Bermuda law, our board of directors has the power to issue any of our unissued shares as it determines, including the issuance of any shares or class of shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights.

8


Table of Contents

Bye-Laws

        In addition to the provisions of the Bye-Laws described above under "—Voting Rights and Adjustments," the following provisions are a summary of some of the other important provisions of our Bye-Laws.

        Our Board of Directors and Corporate Action.     Our Bye-Laws provide that our board of directors shall consist of not less than three and not more than 21 directors, the exact number as determined by the board of directors. Our board of directors consists of 11 persons, and is divided into three classes. Each director generally will serve a three-year term, with termination staggered according to class. Shareholders may only remove a director for cause (as defined in our Bye-Laws) at a general meeting, provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a director shall contain a statement of the intention to do so and shall be provided to that director at least two weeks before the meeting. Vacancies on the board of directors can be filled by the board of directors if the vacancy occurs in those events set out in our Bye-Laws as a result of death, disability, disqualification or resignation of a director, or from an increase in the size of the board of directors.

        Generally under our Bye-Laws, the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast at any meeting at which a quorum is present is required to authorize a resolution put to vote at a meeting of the board of directors. Corporate action may also be taken by a unanimous written resolution of the board of directors without a meeting. A quorum shall be at least one-half of directors then in office present in person or represented by a duly authorized representative, provided that at least two directors are present in person.

        Shareholder Action.     At the commencement of any general meeting, two or more persons present in person and representing, in person or by proxy, more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In general, anything that may be done by resolution of our shareholders in a general meeting may be taken, without a meeting, by a resolution in writing signed by all of the shareholders entitled to attend such meeting and vote on the resolution. In general, any questions proposed for the consideration of the shareholders at any general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast in accordance with the Bye-Laws.

        The Bye-Laws contain advance notice requirements for shareholder proposals and nominations for directors, including when proposals and nominations must be received and the information to be included.

        Amendment.     The Bye-Laws may be amended only by a resolution adopted by the board of directors and by resolution of the shareholders.

        Voting of Non-U.S. Subsidiary Shares.     If we are required or entitled to vote at a general meeting of any of AG Re, Assured Guaranty Finance Overseas Ltd. or any other directly held non-U.S. subsidiary of ours, our board of directors shall refer the subject matter of the vote to our shareholders and seek direction from such shareholders as to how they should vote on the resolution proposed by the non-U.S. subsidiary. Our board of directors in its discretion shall require that substantially similar provisions are or will be contained in the bye-laws (or equivalent governing documents) of any direct or indirect non-U.S. subsidiaries other than Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd.

9


Table of Contents

Anti-Takeover Provisions in our Bye-laws

        Our Bye-Laws contain provisions that may entrench directors and make it more difficult for shareholders to replace directors even if the shareholders consider it beneficial to do so. In addition, these provisions could delay or prevent a change of control that a shareholder might consider favorable. For example, these provisions may prevent a shareholder from receiving the benefit from any premium over the market price of our common shares offered by a bidder in a potential takeover. Even in the absence of an attempt to effect a change in management or a takeover attempt, these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common shares if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future.

        For example, our Bye-Laws contain the following provisions that could have such an effect:

    election of our directors is staggered, meaning that the members of only one of three classes of our directors are selected each year;

    shareholders have limited ability to remove directors;

    if the controlled shares of any U.S. Person constitute 9.5% or more of the votes conferred by the issued shares of AGL, the voting rights with respect to the controlled shares of such U.S. Person shall be limited, in the aggregate, to a voting power of less than 9.5%;

    our board of directors may decline to approve or register the transfer of any common shares on our share register if it appears to the board of directors, after taking into account the limitations on voting rights contained in our Bye-Laws, that any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to us, any of our subsidiaries or any shareholder, would result from such transfer (other than such as our board of directors considers to be de minimis); and

    subject to any applicable requirements of or commitments to the New York Stock Exchange, our directors may decline to record the transfer of any common shares on our share register unless the board of directors obtains: (i) a written opinion from counsel supporting the legality of the transaction under U.S. securities laws and (ii) approval from appropriate governmental authority if such approval is required.

Differences in Corporate Law

        You should be aware that the Companies Act, which applies to us, differs in certain material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. In order to highlight these differences, set forth below is a summary of certain significant provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us (including modifications adopted pursuant to our Bye-Laws) which differ in certain respects from provisions of the corporate law of the State of Delaware. Because the following statements are summaries, they do not address all aspects of Bermuda law that may be relevant to us and our shareholders.

        Duties of Directors.     Under Bermuda common law, members of a board of directors owe a fiduciary duty to the company to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of the company, and to exercise their powers and fulfill the duties of their office honestly. This duty has the following essential elements:

    a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company;

    a duty not to make a personal profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director;

    a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and

    a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended.

10


Table of Contents

        The Companies Act imposes a duty on directors and officers of a Bermuda company:

    to act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of the company; and

    to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

        In addition, the Companies Act imposes various duties on officers of a company with respect to certain matters of management and administration of the company.

        The Companies Act provides that in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against any officer, if it appears to a court that such officer is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with his appointment, he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from any liability on such terms as the court may think fit. This provision has been interpreted to apply only to actions brought by or on behalf of the company against such officers. Our Bye-Laws, however, provide that we and each of our shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in the right of the Company, against any director or officer of us (and others identified in the Bye-Laws) for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director's or officer's duties, provided that this waiver does not extend to any claims or rights of action that arise out of fraud or dishonesty on the part of such director or officer.

        Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of its shareholders.

        The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner, and inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing and investigating the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty may be summarized as the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the shareholders.

        Under the "business judgment rule," courts generally do not second guess the business judgment of directors and officers. A party challenging the propriety of a decision of a board of directors bears the burden of rebutting the presumption afforded to directors by the business judgment rule. If the presumption is not rebutted, the business judgment rule attaches to protect the directors from liability for their decisions. Where, however, the presumption is rebutted, the directors bear the burden of demonstrating the fairness of the relevant transaction. However, when the board of directors takes defensive actions in response to a threat to corporate control and approves a transaction resulting in a sale of control of the corporation, Delaware courts subject directors' conduct to enhanced scrutiny.

        Interested Directors.     Under Bermuda law and our Bye-Laws, a transaction entered into by us, in which a director has an interest, will not be voidable by us, and such director will not be liable to us for any profit realized pursuant to such transaction, provided the nature of the interest is duly disclosed at the first opportunity at a meeting of directors, or in writing to the directors. In addition, our Bye-Laws allow a director to be taken into account in determining whether a quorum is present and to vote on a transaction in which the director has an interest following a declaration of the interest pursuant to the

11


Table of Contents


Companies Act, provided that the director is not disqualified from doing so by the chairman of the meeting. Under Delaware law, such a transaction would not be voidable if

    the material facts with respect to such interested director's relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors, and the board of directors in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors,

    such material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on such transaction, and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the majority of shares entitled to vote thereon, or

    the transaction is fair to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified.

Under Delaware law, an interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.

        Dividends.     Bermuda law does not permit the declaration or payment of dividends or distributions of contributed surplus by a company if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company, after the payment is made, would be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or the realizable value of the company's assets would be less, as a result of the payment, than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. The excess of the consideration paid on issue of shares over the aggregate par value of such shares must (except in certain limited circumstances) be credited to a share premium account. Share premium may be distributed in certain limited circumstances; for example, to pay up unissued shares which may be distributed to shareholders in proportion to their holdings, but is otherwise subject to limitation. In addition, our ability to declare and pay dividends and other distributions is subject to Bermuda insurance laws and regulatory constraints.

        Under Delaware law, subject to any restrictions contained in the company's certificate of incorporation, a company may pay dividends out of surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year. Delaware law also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits at any time when capital is less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

        Amalgamations, Mergers and Similar Arrangements.     The amalgamation of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation (other than certain affiliated companies) requires the amalgamation agreement to be approved by the company's board of directors and by its shareholders. We may, with the approval of our board and, except in the case of amalgamations with and between wholly owned subsidiaries being Bermuda companies, at least 75% of the votes cast at a general meeting of our shareholders at which a quorum is present, amalgamate with another Bermuda company or with a body incorporated outside Bermuda. In the case of an amalgamation, a shareholder may apply to a Bermuda court for a proper valuation of such shareholder's shares if such shareholder is not satisfied that fair market value has been paid for such shares.

        Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Under Delaware law, a shareholder of a corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such shareholder may receive payment in the amount of the fair market value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration such shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.

        Takeovers.     Bermuda law provides that where an offer is made for shares of a company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of not less than 90% of the shares which are the subject of

12


Table of Contents


the offer accept, the offeror may by notice require the non-tendering shareholders to transfer their shares on the terms of the offer. Dissenting shareholders may apply to the court within one month of the notice objecting to the transfer. The test is one of fairness to the body of the shareholders and not to individuals and the burden is on the dissentient shareholder to prove unfairness, not merely that the scheme is open to criticism. Delaware law provides that a parent corporation, by resolution of its board of directors and without any shareholder vote, may merge with any subsidiary of which it owns at least 90% of each class of capital stock. Upon any such merger, dissenting shareholders of the subsidiary would have appraisal rights.

        Certain Transactions with Significant Shareholders.     As a Bermuda company, we may enter into certain business transactions with our significant shareholders, including asset sales, in which a significant shareholder receives, or could receive, a financial benefit that is greater than that received, or to be received, by other shareholders with prior approval from our board of directors but without obtaining prior approval from our shareholders. If we were a Delaware corporation, we would need, subject to certain exceptions, prior approval from shareholders holding at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock not owned by such interested shareholder to enter into a business combination (which, for this purpose, includes asset sales of greater than 10% of our assets that would otherwise be considered transactions in the ordinary course of business) with an interested shareholder for a period of three years from the time the person became an interested shareholder, unless we had opted out of the relevant Delaware statute, as provided for in that statute.

        Shareholders' Suits.     The rights of shareholders under Bermuda law are not as extensive as the rights of shareholders under legislation or judicial precedent in many U.S. jurisdictions. Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under the laws of Bermuda. However, the Bermuda courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedent, which would permit a shareholder to commence an action in our name to remedy a wrong done to us where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond our corporate power or is illegal or would result in the violation of our Memorandum of Association or Bye-Laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by the court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of our shareholders than actually approved it. The winning party in such an action generally would be able to recover a portion of attorneys' fees incurred in connection with such action. Our Bye-Laws provide that shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in the right of the Company, against any director or officer of us (and others identified in the Bye-Laws) for any action or failure to act in the performance of such director's or officer's duties, except such waiver shall not extend to claims or rights of action that arise out of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court generally has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys' fees incurred in connection with such action.

        Indemnification of Directors and Officers.     Under Bermuda law we may, and under our Bye-Laws we will, indemnify our directors, officers, any other person appointed to a committee of the board of directors and certain other persons identified in the Bye-Laws (and their respective heirs, executors or administrators) against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred or sustained by such person by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in the execution of his/her duties or supposed duties; provided that such indemnification shall not extend to any matter involving any fraud or dishonesty on the part of such director, officer or other person. Under Delaware law, a corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees),

13


Table of Contents


judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position if

    such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and

    with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Under our Bye-Laws, we and each of our shareholders agree to waive any claim or right of action, other than those involving fraud or dishonesty, against any of our officers or directors or others identified in our Bye-Laws.

        Inspection of Corporate Records.     Members of the general public have the right to inspect our public documents available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda and our registered office in Bermuda, which will include our memorandum of association (including its objects and powers) and any alteration to our memorandum of association and documents relating to any increase or reduction of authorized capital. Our shareholders have the additional right to inspect our Bye-Laws, minutes of general meetings and audited annual financial statements, which must be presented to the annual general meeting of shareholders. The register of our shareholders is also open to inspection by shareholders and members of the public without charge. We are required to maintain our share register in Bermuda but, after our shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and giving the required notice to the Bermuda Registrar of Companies, we may establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. We are required to keep at our registered office a register of our directors and officers (containing that information required under Bermuda law) which is open for inspection by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records. Delaware law permits any shareholder to inspect or obtain copies of a corporation's shareholder list and its other books and records for any purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a shareholder.

        Shareholder Proposals.     Under Bermuda law, the Companies Act provides that shareholders may, as set forth below and at their own expense (unless a company otherwise resolves), require a company to give notice of any resolution that the shareholders can properly propose at the next annual general meeting and/or to circulate a statement prepared by the requesting shareholders in respect of any matter referred to in a proposed resolution or any business to be conducted at a general meeting. The number of shareholders necessary for such a requisition is either that number of shareholders representing at least 5% of the total voting rights of all shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates or not less than 100 shareholders. Our Bye-Laws also include advance-notice provisions regarding shareholder proposals and nominations. Delaware law does not include a provision restricting the manner in which nominations for directors may be made by shareholders or the manner in which business may be brought before a meeting.

        Calling of Special Shareholders' Meetings.     Under our Bye-Laws, a special general meeting may be called by our President or by our Chairman or any director and our secretary or by our board of directors. Under Bermuda law, a special meeting may also be called by the shareholders when requisitioned by the holders of at least 10% of the paid-up voting share capital of AGL as provided by the Companies Act. Delaware law permits the board of directors or any person who is authorized under a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws to call a special meeting of shareholders.

        Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent.     Under Bermuda law, the Companies Act provides that shareholders may take action by written consent with 100% shareholders consent required. Delaware law permits shareholders to take action by the consent in writing by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to

14


Table of Contents


authorize or take such action at a meeting of shareholders at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

        Amendment of Memorandum of Association.     Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders of which due notice has been given. An amendment to the memorandum of association that alters a company's business objects may require approval of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, who may grant or withhold approval at his or her discretion.

        Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20% in par value of a company's issued share capital have the right to apply to the Bermuda courts for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment which alters or reduces a company's share capital as provided in the Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda court. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the company's memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their designees as such holders may appoint in writing for such purpose. No application may be made by the shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.

        Under Delaware law, amendment of the certificate of incorporation, which is the equivalent of a memorandum of association, of a company must be made by a resolution of the board of directors setting forth the amendment, declaring its advisability, and either calling a special meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote or directing that the amendment proposed be considered at the next annual meeting of the shareholders. Delaware law requires that, unless a different percentage is provided for in the certificate of incorporation, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon is required to approve the amendment of the certificate of incorporation at the shareholders meeting. If the amendment would alter the number of authorized shares or otherwise adversely affect the rights or preference of any class of a company's stock, Delaware law provides that the holders of the outstanding shares of such affected class should be entitled to vote as a class upon the proposed amendment, regardless of whether such holders are entitled to vote by the certificate of incorporation. However, the number of authorized shares of any class may be increased or decreased, to the extent not falling below the number of shares then outstanding, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock entitled to vote, if so provided in the company's certificate of incorporation or any amendment that created such class or was adopted prior to the issuance of such class or that was authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of such class of stock.

        Amendment of Bye-Laws.     Consistent with the Companies Act, our Bye-Laws provide that the Bye-Laws may only be rescinded, altered or amended upon approval by a resolution of our board of directors and by a resolution of our shareholders.

        Under Delaware law, holders of a majority of the voting power of a corporation and, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, the directors of the corporation, have the power to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of a corporation.

        Staggered Board of Directors.     Under Bermuda law, the Companies Act does not contain statutory provisions specifically mandating staggered board arrangements for a Bermuda exempted company. Such provisions, however, may validly be provided for in the Bye-Laws governing the affairs of such a company. Delaware law permits corporations to have a staggered board of directors.

Listing

        Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "AGO."

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services whose principal executive office is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York NY 10286.

15


Table of Contents


DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

        We may offer depositary shares, each representing a specified fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred shares. Depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares will be issued to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related preferred shares.

        The shares of any class or series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement among us, a depositary selected by us and the holders of the depositary receipts, whom we refer to in this section as owners. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred shares represented by the depositary share in proportion to the fraction of a preferred share represented by the depositary share, including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

Dividends and Other Distributions

        The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other distributions received on the related preferred shares to the owners in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the owners, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the owners.

Withdrawal of Shares

        Upon surrender of the depositary receipts, unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, the owner is entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of the related preferred shares and any money or other property represented by his depositary shares. Holders of the whole preferred shares will not be entitled to exchange the preferred shares for depositary shares. If the delivered depositary receipts evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of whole preferred shares to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the owner a new depositary receipt evidencing this excess number at the same time. In no event will fractional preferred shares be delivered upon surrender of depositary receipts.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

        Whenever we redeem preferred shares held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem the number of depositary shares representing the related preferred shares. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per preferred share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the depositary or us.

Voting the Preferred Shares

        Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record owners of the depositary shares. Each record owner on the record date, which will be the same as the record date for the preferred shares, may instruct the depositary how to exercise its voting rights pertaining to the preferred shares represented by the owner's depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of the preferred shares represented by these depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all action which the depositary deems necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote preferred shares if it does not receive specific instructions from the record owners.

16


Table of Contents

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended at any time by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the owners will not be effective unless it has been approved by the owners representing at least a majority, or, in the case of amendments affecting rights to receive dividends or distributions or voting or redemption rights, 66 2 / 3 % of the depositary shares then outstanding. We or the depositary may terminate the deposit agreement only:

    if all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed;

    if there has been a final distribution on the preferred shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of AGL and the distribution has been distributed to the owners; or

    with the consent of owners representing not less than 66 2 / 3 % of the depositary shares outstanding.

Charges of Depositary

        We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of preferred shares and any redemption of the preferred shares. Owners will pay all other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

        The depositary may refuse to transfer a depositary receipt or any withdrawal of preferred shares evidenced by the depositary receipts until all taxes and charges with respect to the receipts or preferred shares are paid by the owners.

Miscellaneous

        The depositary will forward all reports and communications which it receives from us and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred shares.

        Neither the depositary nor we will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our and the depositary's obligations will be limited to performance of the duties under the deposit agreement in a manner that does not constitute bad faith, and neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary or preferred shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

        The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to resign, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary, which successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or be an affiliate of such bank or trust company.

17


Table of Contents


DESCRIPTION OF THE AGL DEBT SECURITIES

        The following description of the AGL debt securities sets forth the material terms and provisions of the AGL debt securities. The AGL senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the AGL senior indenture, between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee, the form of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The AGL subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the AGL subordinated indenture, between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee, the form of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The AGL senior indenture and the AGL subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus collectively as the AGL indentures and each individually as an AGL indenture. The specific terms applicable to a particular issuance of AGL debt securities and any variations from the terms set forth below will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the AGL indentures and the AGL debt securities. You should refer to the forms of the AGL indentures and the AGL debt securities for complete information regarding the terms and provisions of the AGL indentures and the AGL debt securities. The AGL indentures are substantially identical, except for the covenants of AGL and provisions relating to subordination.

General

        The AGL indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of AGL debt securities which we may issue. We may issue AGL debt securities under the AGL indentures from time to time in one or more series. The AGL indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness, or AGL debt securities other than secured indebtedness, which we or our subsidiaries may issue.

        Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the AGL senior debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The AGL subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, which term includes AGL senior debt securities, as described below under "Subordination of AGL Subordinated Debt Securities."

        Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including you, as a holder of AGL debt securities, and shareholders to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we are a creditor of the subsidiary. The right of our creditors, including you, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by us in some of our subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over these subsidiaries.

        Each prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the offered AGL debt securities:

    the title of the series;

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

    the principal payment dates;

    the interest rates, if any, which rate may be zero if the AGL debt securities are issued at a discount from the principal amount payable at maturity, or the method by which the interest rates will be determined, including, if applicable, any remarketing option or similar method;

18


Table of Contents

    the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

    the interest payment dates and regular record dates;

    whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts because of taxes or governmental charges that might be imposed on holders of the AGL debt securities and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the AGL debt securities in lieu of paying these additional amounts; whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the AGL debt securities in lieu of paying additional amounts in respect of Bermuda taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges that might be imposed on you and the terms of the option;

    the place or places where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any AGL debt securities will be payable, where any of AGL debt securities that are issued in registered form may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where any AGL debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

    whether any of the AGL debt securities are to be redeemable at our option and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which they may be redeemed, in whole or in part;

    whether we will be obligated to redeem or purchase any of the AGL debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at your option, and, if so, the dates or prices and the other terms on which the AGL debt securities must be redeemed or purchased pursuant to this obligation and any provisions for the remarketing of the AGL debt securities so redeemed or purchased;

    if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which any AGL debt securities to be issued in registered form will be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denominations in which any AGL debt securities to be issued in bearer form will be issuable;

    whether the AGL debt securities will be convertible into common shares and/or exchangeable for other securities, whether or not issued by us and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which the AGL debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable;

    if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount, or the method by which the portion will be determined, of the AGL debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the AGL debt securities;

    if other than United States dollars, the currency of payment in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the AGL debt securities will be paid;

    whether the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the AGL debt securities will be payable, at our or your election, in a currency other than that in which the AGL debt securities are stated to be payable, and the dates and the other terms upon which this election may be made;

    any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the AGL debt securities;

    whether the AGL debt securities are to be issued in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security or securities;

    whether the AGL debt securities are senior or subordinated and, if subordinated, the applicable subordination provisions;

19


Table of Contents

    in the case of AGL subordinated debt securities, the relative degree, if any, to which the AGL subordinated debt securities will be senior to or be subordinated to other series of AGL subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness of AGL in right of payment, whether the other series of AGL subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

    any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants of AGL;

    whether the provisions described below under "Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" will be applicable to the AGL debt securities;

    whether any of the AGL debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants and the time, manner and place for the AGL debt securities to be authenticated and delivered; and

    any other terms of the AGL debt securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to the applicable AGL indenture.

        We will have the ability under the AGL indentures to "reopen" a previously issued series of AGL debt securities and issue additional AGL debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series. We are also permitted to issue AGL debt securities with the same terms as previously issued AGL debt securities.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of, premium and interest on and additional amounts, if any, on the AGL debt securities will initially be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee or any other office or agency designated by us. Interest on AGL debt securities issued in registered form:

    may be paid by check mailed to the persons entitled to the payments at their addresses appearing on the security register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States; and

    will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the AGL debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date with respect to the interest payment date.

        We will designate the initial paying agents, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and may, at any time, designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. However, we are required to maintain a paying agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the AGL debt securities are payable.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may present the AGL debt securities for transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer if so required by AGL or the security registrar, or exchange for other AGL debt securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, in each case at the office or agency maintained by us for this purpose, which will initially be the corporate trust office of the trustee. Any transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, although we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. AGL is not required to:

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange AGL debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any AGL debt securities and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing; or

    register the transfer of or exchange any AGL debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any AGL debt security being redeemed in part.

20


Table of Contents

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will only issue the AGL debt securities in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. If the AGL debt securities are issued in bearer form, any restrictions and considerations, including offering restrictions and U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to these securities and to payment on and transfer and exchange of these securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The AGL debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities, which means that they will bear no interest or bear interest at a rate which, at the time of issuance, is below market rates. AGL debt securities issued as original issue discount securities will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount.

        U.S. Federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If the purchase price, or the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any AGL debt securities is payable in, or if any AGL debt securities are denominated in, one or more foreign currencies or currency units, the restrictions, elections, U.S. Federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than as described below under "—Covenants Applicable to AGL Senior Debt Securities—Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries," the AGL indentures do not limit our ability to incur indebtedness or protect holders of the AGL debt securities in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of its outstanding indebtedness or otherwise affect its capital structure or credit rating.

Conversion and Exchange

        The terms, if any, on which AGL debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily or at our or your option, property or cash, common shares, preferred shares or other securities, whether or not issued by us, or a combination of any of these, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Global Securities

        The AGL debt securities may be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Interests in any global AGL debt security will be shown on, and transfers of the AGL debt securities will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants as described below.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payment of Additional Amounts

        We will make all payments on the AGL debt securities without withholding of any present or future taxes or governmental charges of Bermuda, referred to as a taxing jurisdiction, unless we are required to do so by applicable law or regulation.

21


Table of Contents

        If we are required to withhold amounts, we will, subject to the limitations described below, pay to you additional amounts so that every net payment made to you, after the withholding, will be the same amount provided for in the AGL debt security and the applicable AGL indenture.

        We will not be required to pay any additional amounts for:

    any tax or governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the fact that you:

    were a resident of, or engaged in business or maintained a permanent establishment or were physically present in, the taxing jurisdiction or otherwise had some connection with the taxing jurisdiction other than the mere ownership of, or receipt of payment on, the AGL debt security;

    presented the AGL debt security for payment in the taxing jurisdiction, unless the AGL debt security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere; or

    presented the AGL debt security for payment more than 30 days after the date on which the payment became due unless you would have been entitled to these additional amounts if you had presented the AGL debt security for payment within the 30-day period;

    any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax or other governmental charge;

    any tax or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld because of your failure to comply with any reasonable request by us:

    to provide information concerning your nationality, residence or identity or that of the beneficial owner; or

    to make any claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which in either case is required by the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of the tax or other governmental charge; or

    any combination of the above items.

        In addition, we will not pay additional amounts if you are a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the AGL debt security if the beneficiary or partner or settlor would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had it been the holder of the AGL debt security.

Covenants Applicable to AGL Senior Debt Securities

    Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        Under the AGL senior indenture, we will covenant that, so long as any AGL senior debt securities are outstanding, we will not, nor will we permit any subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any indebtedness secured by any security interest on any shares of capital stock of any designated subsidiary, unless we concurrently provide that the AGL senior debt securities and, if we elect, any other indebtedness that is not subordinate to the AGL senior debt securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which we are obligated, to provide such security, will be secured equally with this indebtedness for at least the time period this other indebtedness is so secured.

        The term "designated subsidiary" means any present or future consolidated subsidiary, the consolidated net worth of which constitutes at least 5% of the Company's consolidated net worth.

22


Table of Contents

        For purposes of the AGL indentures, the term "indebtedness" means, with respect to any person:

    the principal of and any premium and interest on:

    indebtedness for money borrowed; and

    indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which the person is responsible or liable;

    all capitalized lease obligations;

    all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement, but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

    all obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction, generally other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than the obligations described above), entered into in the ordinary course of business to the extent these letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third business day following receipt by the person of a demand for reimbursement following payment or a letter of credit;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons and all dividends of other persons for the payment of which, in either case, the person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the person, whether or not the obligation is assumed by the person; and

    any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described above.

    Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        The AGL senior indenture also provides that, so long as any AGL senior debt securities are outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by the AGL indentures, we will not issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, capital stock, other than preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary. Similarly, we will not permit any designated subsidiary to issue, other than to us, these types of securities, warrants, rights or options, other than director's qualifying shares and preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary, if, after giving effect to the transaction and the issuance of the maximum number of shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise of all the convertible securities, warrants, rights or options, we would own, directly or indirectly, less than 80% of the shares of capital stock of the designated subsidiary, other than preferred stock having no voting rights.

        However, we may issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of securities if the consideration is at least a fair market value as determined by our board or if required by law or regulation. We may also merge or consolidate any designated subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect subsidiary, the shares of capital stock of which we own at least 80% or, subject to the provisions described under"—Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets" below, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the entire capital stock of any designated subsidiary at one time if the consideration is at least fair market value as determined by our board.

23


Table of Contents

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        Each AGL indenture provides that we may not:

    consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person; or

    permit any person to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into us, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us;

        unless:

    the person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Bermuda or any other country that, on March 15, 2002, was a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;

    the surviving entity expressly assumes the payment of all amounts on all of the AGL debt securities and the performance of our obligations under the AGL indenture and the AGL debt securities;

    the surviving entity provides for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the AGL debt securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares or other securities; and

    immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes our obligation as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by us at the time of the transaction, no event of default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default, will have happened and be continuing.

Events of Default

        Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under each AGL indenture:

    default in the payment of any interest on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any AGL debt security when the interest or additional amounts become due and payable, and continuance of this default for a period of 30 days;

    default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any AGL debt security when the principal, premium or additional amounts become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

    default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty for the benefit of the holders of the AGL debt securities, and the continuance of this default or breach for a period of 60 days after we have received written notice from the holders;

    if any event of default under a mortgage, indenture or instrument under which we issue, or by which we secure or evidence, any indebtedness, including an event of default under any other series of AGL debt securities, whether the indebtedness now exists or is later created or incurred, happens and consists of default in the payment of more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness at the maturity of the indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period, or results in the indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and this default is not cured or the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after AGL has received written notice;

24


Table of Contents

    we fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;

    our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

    any other event of default, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If an event of default with respect to the AGL debt securities of any series, other than events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities of the series may declare the principal amount, or a lesser amount as may be provided for in the AGL debt securities, of all outstanding AGL debt securities of the series to be immediately due and payable by written notice. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, generally, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the AGL debt securities of the series may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration. Any event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization will cause the principal amount and accrued interest, or the lesser amount as provided for in the AGL debt securities, to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

        In connection with the issuance of any debt securities, the supplemental indenture shall provide that notwithstanding the foregoing, at AGL's election, the sole remedy for the failure by AGL to comply with the covenant in the indenture requiring AGL to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC ("AGL's SEC filing obligations") and for any failure by AGL to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, which similarly requires AGL to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC, shall, for the first 270 days after the occurrence of such failure consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the debt securities of such series at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of the debt securities. This additional interest will accrue on the debt securities from and including the date on which a failure to comply with AGL's SEC filing obligations or the failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA first occurs to but not including the 270th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which such failure shall have been cured or waived). On such 270th day (or earlier, if such failure is cured or waived prior to such 270th day), such additional interest will cease to accrue and, if such failure has not been cured or waived prior to such 270th day, then either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately. However, prior to such 270th day, any such failure shall not be an event of default. This provision shall not affect the rights of holders in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default.

        Each AGL indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default the trustee will transmit notice of the default to each holder of the AGL debt securities unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, or interest, if any, on or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to any AGL debt security, the trustee may withhold this notice if and so long as the board of directors, executive committee or trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the best interest of the holders.

        If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the AGL debt securities of any series, the trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of AGL debt securities by all appropriate judicial proceedings. Each AGL indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the AGL indenture at

25


Table of Contents


the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these indemnification provisions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities of any series will generally 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 AGL debt securities of the series.

Modification and Waiver

        AGL and the trustee may modify or amend either AGL indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment, so long as the modification or amendment does not, without the consent of each affected holder:

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, any premium or installment of interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any AGL debt security;

    reduce the principal amount of, or the rate, or modify the calculation of the rate, of interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any AGL debt security;

    change the obligation of AGL to pay additional amounts;

    reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the original issue discount security or the amount provable in bankruptcy;

    change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder;

    change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any AGL debt security is payable;

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any AGL debt security or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the repayment date;

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take specific actions;

    reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of AGL debt securities in specified circumstances;

    modify any of the provisions regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of specified covenants by the holders of AGL debt securities, except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that other provisions of the AGL indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each AGL debt security affected by the modification;

    make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any AGL debt security into or for common shares of AGL or other securities, whether or not issued by AGL, cash or property in accordance with its terms;

    modify any of the provisions of the AGL subordinated indenture relating to the subordination of the AGL subordinated debt securities in a manner adverse to holders of AGL subordinated debt securities; or

    modify any of the above provisions.

26


Table of Contents

        In addition, no supplemental indenture may, directly or indirectly, modify or eliminate the subordination provisions of the AGL subordinated indenture in any manner that might terminate or impair the subordination of the AGL subordinated debt securities of any series to senior indebtedness without the prior written consent of the holders of the senior indebtedness.

        AGL and the trustee may modify or amend the AGL indenture and the AGL debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder in order to, among other things:

    provide for a successor to AGL pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or sale of assets;

    add to the covenants of AGL for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of AGL debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon AGL;

    provide for a successor trustee with respect to the AGL debt securities of all or any series;

    cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under either AGL indenture which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of AGL debt securities of any series;

    change the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of AGL debt securities;

    add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of AGL debt securities;

    secure the AGL debt securities;

    provide for conversion or exchange rights of the holders of any series of AGL debt securities; or

    make any other change that does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of any AGL debt securities then outstanding.

        The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all AGL debt securities of that series, waive compliance by AGL with specified covenants. The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding AGL debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all AGL debt securities of that series, waive any past default and its consequences with respect to the AGL debt securities of that series, except a default:

    in the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to AGL debt securities of that series; or

    in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding AGL debt security of any series affected.

        Under each AGL indenture, AGL must annually furnish the trustee with a statement regarding its performance of specified obligations and any default in its performance under the applicable AGL indenture. AGL is also required to deliver to the trustee, within five days after its occurrence, written notice of any event of default, or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default, resulting from the failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or warranty contained in the applicable AGL indenture or the AGL debt securities.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        We may discharge our payment obligations on the AGL debt securities, which we refer to as defeasance, or elect to be discharged from complying with the covenants in the AGL indentures, except

27


Table of Contents


for certain ministerial obligations, like registering transfers or exchanges of the AGL debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

        Defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, will be conditioned upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee, in trust, of a cash amount or government obligations, or both, which, through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, any premium and interest on and any additional amounts with respect to, the AGL debt securities on the scheduled due dates.

        We may only do this if, among other things:

    the defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the applicable AGL indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which AGL is a party or by which it is bound;

    no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the AGL debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be continuing on the date of establishment of the trust and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after that date; and

    we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that you will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. The opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the I.R.S. received by us, a revenue ruling published by the I.R.S. or a change in applicable U.S. Federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable AGL indenture.

Subordination of AGL Subordinated Debt Securities

        The AGL subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of our assets, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of AGL subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the AGL subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution of any kind or character, including any payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of AGL being subordinated to the payment of AGL subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the AGL subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

        By reason of subordination, in the event of our liquidation or insolvency, holders of our senior indebtedness and holders of our other obligations that are not subordinated to senior indebtedness may recover more ratably than the holders of the AGL subordinated debt securities.

        Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness, your rights, as a holder of the AGL subordinated debt securities, will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of our cash, property or securities applicable to the senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on and any additional amounts with respect to the AGL senior debt securities have been paid in full.

28


Table of Contents

        No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the AGL subordinated debt securities of any series may be made:

    if any senior indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist, or

    if the maturity of any senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

        The AGL subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit us from incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the AGL subordinated debt securities but subordinate to our other obligations. The AGL senior debt securities will constitute senior indebtedness with respect to the AGL subordinated debt securities.

        The term "senior indebtedness" means all indebtedness of AGL outstanding at any time, except:

    the AGL subordinated debt securities of the series;

    indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the indebtedness, it is provided that the indebtedness is subordinated to or ranks equally with the AGL subordinated debt securities;

    indebtedness to an affiliate;

    interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding, unless the interest is an allowed claim enforceable against AGL in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws; and

    trade accounts payable.

        Senior indebtedness will continue to be senior indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness.

        The AGL subordinated indenture provides that these subordination provisions may be changed prior to issuance of the AGL subordinated debt securities. Any change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

New York Law to Govern

        The AGL indentures and the AGL debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York.

Information Concerning the Trustee

        We may, from time to time, borrow from or maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions with The Bank of New York and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

        Under each AGL indenture, The Bank of New York is required to transmit annual reports to all holders regarding its eligibility and qualifications as trustee under the applicable AGL indenture and related matters.


DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSURED GUARANTY US HOLDINGS DEBT SECURITIES
AND AGL GUARANTEE

        The following description of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee sets forth the material terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The Assured

29


Table of Contents


Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior indenture, among Assured Guaranty US Holdings, AGL, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as trustee, dated as of May 1, 2004, which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture, among Assured Guaranty US Holdings, AGL, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as trustee, dated as of December 1, 2006, which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior indenture and the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures and each individually as an Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture. The specific terms applicable to a particular issuance of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and any variations from the terms set forth below will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee. You should refer to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures and the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities for complete information regarding the terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee. The Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures are substantially identical, except for the covenants of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL and provisions relating to subordination.

General

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities which Assured Guaranty US Holdings may issue. Assured Guaranty US Holdings may issue Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures from time to time in one or more series. The Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, other than secured indebtedness which we, Assured Guaranty US Holdings or their respective subsidiaries may issue.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities will be unsecured obligations of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and will rank equally with all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior indebtedness, which term includes Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities, as described below under "Subordination of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities."

        Because Assured Guaranty US Holdings is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its creditors, including you as a holder of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon that subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that Assured Guaranty US Holdings is a creditor of the subsidiary. The rights of creditors of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, including you as a holder of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by Assured Guaranty US Holdings in its subsidiaries, including Assured Guaranty US Holdings' insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to the approval of insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the offered Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities:

    the title of the series;

30


Table of Contents

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

    the principal payment dates;

    the interest rates, if any, or the method by which the interest rates will be determined, including, if applicable, any remarketing option or similar option. This interest rate may be zero in the case of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities issued at an issue price representing a discount from the principal amount payable at maturity;

    the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

    the interest payment dates and regular record dates;

    whether and under what circumstances Assured Guaranty US Holdings will pay additional amounts because of taxes or governmental charges that might be imposed on holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities in lieu of paying these additional amounts;

    the place or places where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be payable, where any of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities that are issued in registered form may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where any of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

    whether any of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are to be redeemable at the option of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which they may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of Assured Guaranty US Holdings;

    whether Assured Guaranty US Holdings will be obligated to redeem or purchase any of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at your option and, if so, the date or dates and other terms and conditions on which the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be redeemed or purchased pursuant to this obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities redeemed or purchased;

    if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities to be issued in registered form will be issuable and, if other than a denomination of $5,000, the denominations in which any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities to be issued in bearer form will be issuable;

    whether the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be convertible into other securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or exchangeable for securities of AGL or other issuers and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable;

    if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount, or the method by which this portion will be determined, of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    if other than United States dollars, the currency of payment in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be payable;

31


Table of Contents

    whether the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be payable, at the election of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or you, in a currency other than that in which the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are stated to be payable and the dates and other terms upon which this election may be made;

    any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    whether the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are to be issued in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security or securities;

    whether the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are senior or subordinated and, if subordinated, the applicable subordination provisions;

    in the case of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, the relative degree, if any, to which the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of the series and the related AGL guarantee will be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities and the related AGL guarantee(s) or other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, as the case may be, in right of payment, whether the other series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

    any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    whether the provisions described below under "Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" will be applicable to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    whether any of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities to be authenticated and delivered; and

    any other terms of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture in respect of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings has the ability under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures to reopen a previously issued series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and issue additional Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series. Assured Guaranty US Holdings is also permitted to issue Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities with the same terms as previously issued Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of, premium and interest on and additional amounts, if any, on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will initially be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee, or any other office or agency designated by Assured Guaranty US Holdings for this purpose. Interest on Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities issued in registered form:

    may be paid by check mailed to the persons entitled to the payments at their addresses appearing on the security register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States; and

32


Table of Contents

    will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date with respect to the interest payment date.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings will designate the initial paying agents, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and may, at any time, designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. However, Assured Guaranty US Holdings is required to maintain a paying agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are payable.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may present the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities for transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer if so required by Assured Guaranty US Holdings or the security registrar, or exchange for other Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, in each case at the office or agency maintained by Assured Guaranty US Holdings for these purposes. This office will initially be the corporate trust office of the trustee. Any transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, although Assured Guaranty US Holdings may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. Assured Guaranty US Holdings is not required to:

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing; or

    register the transfer of or exchange any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security being redeemed in part.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings has appointed the trustee as security registrar. The security registrar and any transfer agent initially designated by Assured Guaranty US Holdings will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. At any time, Assured Guaranty US Holdings may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. However, Assured Guaranty US Holdings is required to maintain a transfer agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are payable.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will only issue the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. If the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are issued in bearer form, any restrictions and considerations, including offering restrictions and U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to, and to payment on and transfer and exchange of, these securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities, which means that they will bear no interest or bear interest at a rate which, at the time of issuance, is below market rates. Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities issued as original issue discount securities will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. U.S. federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

33


Table of Contents

        If the purchase price, or the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to, any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities is payable, or if any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are denominated, in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, the restrictions, elections, U.S. federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than as described below under "—Covenants Applicable to Assured Guaranty US Holdings Senior Debt Securities—Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries," the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures do not contain any provisions that would limit the ability of Assured Guaranty US Holdings to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in the credit quality of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL. Accordingly, Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL could, in the future, enter into transactions that could increase the amount of its outstanding indebtedness that could affect its respective capital structure or credit rating.

AGL Guarantee

        We will fully and unconditionally guarantee all payments on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, our guarantee of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of AGL and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Our guarantee of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of AGL, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness.

        Since we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including you as a holder of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities who would be a creditor of ours by virtue of our guarantee, and shareholders to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we may be a creditor of the subsidiary. The right of our creditors, including you, to participate in the distribution of the stock owned by us in some of our subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

Conversion and Exchange

        The terms, if any, on which Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily or at your or Assured Guaranty US Holdings' option, common shares of AGL, preferred shares of AGL or other securities, whether or not issued by AGL, property or cash, or a combination of any of these, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Additional Amounts

        We will make all payments on Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities without withholding of any present or future taxes or governmental charges of Bermuda, referred to in this prospectus as a taxing jurisdiction, unless we are required to do so by applicable law or regulation.

        If we are required to withhold amounts, we will, subject to the limitations described below, pay to you additional amounts so that every net payment made to you, after the withholding, will not be the same amount provided for in the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security and the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture.

34


Table of Contents

        We will not be required to pay any additional amounts for:

    any tax or governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the fact that you:

    were a resident of, or engaged in business or maintained a permanent establishment or were physically present in, the taxing jurisdiction or otherwise had some connection with the taxing jurisdiction other than the mere ownership of, or receipt of payment on, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security;

    presented the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security for payment in the taxing jurisdiction, unless the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere; or

    presented the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security for payment more than 30 days after the date on which the payment became due, unless you would have been entitled to these additional amounts if you had presented the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security for payment within the 30-day period;

    any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax or other governmental charge;

    any tax or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld because of your failure to comply with any reasonable request by us:

    to provide information concerning your nationality, residence or identity or that of the beneficial owner; or

    to make any claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which in either case is required by the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of the tax or other governmental charge; or

    any combination of the above items.

        In addition, we will not pay additional amounts if you are a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security if the beneficiary or partner or settlor would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had it been the holder of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security.

Global Securities

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities may be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Interests in any global Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security will be shown on, and transfers of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants as described below.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Covenants Applicable to Assured Guaranty US Holdings Senior Debt Securities

    Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        Under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior indenture, each of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL has covenanted that, so long as any Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities are outstanding, it will not, nor will it permit any subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any indebtedness secured by any security interest on any shares

35


Table of Contents

of capital stock of any designated subsidiary, unless Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL concurrently provide that the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities and, if Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL elect, any other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty US Holdings that is not subordinate to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the Assured Guaranty US Holdings is otherwise obligated, to provide such security, will be secured equally with the indebtedness for at least the time period the other indebtedness is so secured.

        The term "designated subsidiary" means any present or future consolidated subsidiary of AGL, the consolidated net worth of which constitutes at least 5% of the Company's consolidated net worth.

        For purposes of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures, the term "indebtedness" means, with respect to any person:

    the principal of and any premium and interest on:

    indebtedness for money borrowed; and

    indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which the person is responsible or liable;

    all capitalized lease obligations;

    all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement, but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

    all obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction, generally other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations, other than obligations of the type referred to above, entered into in the ordinary course of business to the extent these letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third business day following receipt by such person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons and all dividends of other persons for the payment of which, in either case, the person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the person, whether or not the obligation is assumed by the person; and

    any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described above.

    Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior indenture also provides that, so long as any Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities are outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures, neither Assured Guaranty US Holdings nor AGL will issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, capital stock, other than preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary. Similarly, Assured Guaranty US Holdings will not permit any designated subsidiary to issue, other than to Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, these types of securities, warrants, rights or options, other than director's qualifying shares and preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary, if, after giving effect to the transaction and the issuance of the maximum number of shares issuable upon the conversion or

36


Table of Contents

exercise of all the convertible securities, warrants, rights or options, AGL would own, directly or indirectly, less than 80% of the shares of capital stock of the designated subsidiary, other than preferred stock having no voting rights.

        However, Assured Guaranty US Holdings may issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of securities if the consideration is at least a fair market value as determined by Assured Guaranty US Holdings' board or if required by law or regulation. Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, as the case may be, may also merge or consolidate any designated subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect subsidiary of AGL, the shares of capital stock of which AGL owns at least 80% or, subject to the provisions described under "—Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets" below, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the entire capital stock of any designated subsidiary at one time if the consideration is at least fair market value as determined by Assured Guaranty US Holdings' or AGL's board.

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        Each Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture provides that Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL may not:

    consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person; or

    permit any person to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, respectively, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, respectively;

unless:

    in the case of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, the person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

    in the case of AGL, the person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Bermuda or any other country that, on August 1, 1999, was a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;

    the surviving entity expressly assumes the payment of all amounts on all of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL debt securities and the performance of Assured Guaranty US Holdings' or AGL's obligations under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture and the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities or AGL indenture and AGL debt securities; and

    the surviving entity provides for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the AGL debt securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares or other securities; and

    immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL or a subsidiary as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL or the subsidiary at the time of the transaction, no event of default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default, will have happened and be continuing.

Events of Default

        Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under each Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture, whether it be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or

37


Table of Contents


pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:

    default in the payment of any interest on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security when the interest or additional amounts become due and payable, and continuance of this default for a period of 30 days;

    default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security when the principal, premium or additional amounts become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

    default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL for the benefit of the holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, and the continuance of this default or breach for a period of 60 days after Assured Guaranty US Holdings has received written notice from the holders;

    if any event of default under a mortgage, indenture or instrument under which AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings may issue, or by which AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings may secure or evidence, any indebtedness, including an event of default under any other series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, whether the indebtedness now exists or is later created or incurred, happens and consists of default in the payment of more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness at the maturity of the indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period, or results in the indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and this default is not cured or the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after Assured Guaranty US Holdings has received written notice;

    Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;

    events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL; and

    any other event of default, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If an event of default with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series, other than events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the series may declare the principal amount, or a lesser amount as may be provided for in the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, of all outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the series to be immediately due and payable by written notice. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, generally, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the series may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration. Any event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization will cause the principal amount and accrued interest, or the lesser amount as provided for in the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

38


Table of Contents

        In connection with the issuance of any debt securities, the supplemental indenture shall provide that notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings, the sole remedy for the failure by AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings to comply with the covenant in the indenture requiring AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC ("AGL/Assured Guaranty US Holdings' SEC filing obligations") and for any failure by AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, which similarly requires AGL or Assured Guaranty US Holdings to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC, shall, for the first 270 days after the occurrence of such failure consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the debt securities of such series at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of the debt securities. This additional interest will accrue on the debt securities from and including the date on which a failure to comply with AGL/Assured Guaranty US Holdings' SEC filing obligations or the failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA first occurs to but not including the 270th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which such failure shall have been cured or waived). On such 270th day (or earlier, if such failure is cured or waived prior to such 270th day), such additional interest will cease to accrue and, if such failure has not been cured or waived prior to such 270th day, then either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately. However, prior to such 270th day, any such failure shall not be an event of default. This provision shall not affect the rights of holders in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default.

        Each Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default the trustee must transmit, notice of the default to each holder of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security, the trustee may withhold this notice if and so long as the board of directors, executive committee or trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the best interest of the holders.

        If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series, the trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities by all appropriate judicial proceedings. Each Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these indemnification provisions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series will generally 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 Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the series.

Modification and Waiver

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings, AGL and the trustee may modify or amend either Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of each series

39


Table of Contents


affected by the modification or amendment, so long as the modification or amendment does not, without the consent of each affected holder:

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security;

    reduce the principal amount of, or the rate, or modify the calculation of the rate, of interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security;

    change the obligation of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL to pay additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security;

    reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the original issue discount security or the amount provable in bankruptcy;

    change the redemption provisions of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security;

    change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security is payable;

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security, or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the repayment date;

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take specific actions;

    reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    modify any of the provisions relating to the subordination of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities or the AGL guarantee in a manner adverse to the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    modify or effect in any manner adverse to the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities the terms and conditions of the obligations of AGL in respect of the due and punctual payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any sinking fund requirements or additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    modify any of the provisions regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of specified covenants by the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that other provisions of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security affected by the modification or waiver;

    make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security into or for other securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, AGL or other securities, cash or property in accordance with its terms; or

    modify any of the above provisions.

40


Table of Contents

        In addition, no supplemental indenture may, directly or indirectly, modify or eliminate the subordination provisions of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture in any manner which might terminate or impair the subordination of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities to senior indebtedness or the subordination of the related AGL guarantee to AGL senior indebtedness, without the prior written consent of the holders of the senior indebtedness or the AGL senior indebtedness, respectively.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings, AGL and the trustee may modify or amend the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture and the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder in order to, among other things:

    provide for a successor to Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or sale of assets;

    add to the covenants of Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL by the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture;

    provide for a successor trustee with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of all or any series;

    cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in either Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under either Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series;

    change the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities under either Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture;

    add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    secure the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities;

    provide for conversion or exchange rights of the holders of any series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities; or

    make any other change that does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of any Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities then outstanding under the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture.

        The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of that series, waive compliance by Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL with specified covenants of the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities on behalf of the holders of all Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of that series may waive any past default and its consequences with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of that series, except a default:

    in the payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of the series; or

41


Table of Contents

    in respect of a covenant or provision of the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt security of any series affected.

        Under each Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture, each of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL must annually furnish the trustee a statement regarding its performance of specified obligations and any default in its performance under the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture. Each of Assured Guaranty US Holdings and AGL is also required to deliver to the trustee, within five days after its occurrence, written notice of any event of default, or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default, resulting from the failure to perform or breach of any covenant or warranty contained in the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture or the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities of any series.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL may discharge their payment obligations on the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, which we refer to as defeasance, or elect to be discharged from complying with the covenants in the Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures, except for certain ministerial obligations, like registering transfers or exchanges of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

        Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL may only do this if, among other things:

    the defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL is a party or by which either or them is bound;

    no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be continuing on the date of establishment of the trust and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after that date; and

    Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL has delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that you will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. The opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the I.R.S. received by Assured Guaranty US Holdings or AGL, a Revenue Ruling published by the I.R.S. or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings indenture.

Subordination of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of Assured Guaranty US Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series are entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with

42


Table of Contents


respect to, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of the senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution, which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty US Holdings being subordinated to the payment of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

        By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, holders of senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of Assured Guaranty US Holdings that are not subordinated to the senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings applicable to the senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities have been paid in full.

        No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities may be made by Assured Guaranty US Holdings if:

    any senior indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and the default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist; or

    the maturity of any senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit Assured Guaranty US Holdings from incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to other obligations of Assured Guaranty US Holdings. The Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities will constitute senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        The term "senior indebtedness" means, with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of Assured Guaranty US Holdings outstanding at any time, except:

    the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series;

    indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that the indebtedness is subordinated to or ranks equally with the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    indebtedness of Assured Guaranty US Holdings to an affiliate of Assured Guaranty US Holdings;

    interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding unless the interest is an allowed claim enforceable against Assured Guaranty US Holdings in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws; and

    trade accounts payable.

43


Table of Contents

        Senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness.

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to issuance of the applicable Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination of AGL Guarantee of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities

        The AGL guarantee of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of AGL of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of AGL, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all AGL senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment of the AGL senior indebtedness provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment from AGL on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of AGL senior indebtedness shall be entitled to receive any payment or distribution by AGL of any kind or character, including any payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by AGL by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of AGL being subordinated to the payment of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable by AGL in respect of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

        By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of AGL, holders of AGL senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of AGL that are not subordinated to the AGL senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        Subject to the payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities under the AGL guarantee will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the AGL senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of AGL applicable to the AGL senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty US Holdings senior debt securities have been paid in full.

        No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of any series may be made by AGL if:

    any AGL senior indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and the default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist; or

    the maturity of any AGL senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit AGL from incurring additional AGL senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the AGL guarantee of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to

44


Table of Contents


other obligations of AGL. The AGL senior debt securities will constitute AGL senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        The term "AGL senior indebtedness" means, with respect to the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of AGL outstanding at any time, except:

    AGL's obligations under the AGL guarantee in respect of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series;

    indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that the indebtedness is subordinated to or ranks equally with AGL's obligations under the AGL guarantee in respect of the Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    indebtedness of AGL to an affiliate of AGL;

    interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding unless the interest is an allowed claim enforceable against AGL in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws; and

    trade accounts payable.

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to the issuance of that series of Assured Guaranty US Holdings subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

New York Law to Govern

        The Assured Guaranty US Holdings indentures are, and the Assured Guaranty US Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York.


DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS DEBT SECURITIES
AND AGL GUARANTEE

        The following description of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee sets forth the material terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior indenture, among Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, AGL, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, the form of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture, among Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, AGL, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, the form of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior indenture and the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures and each individually as an Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture. The specific terms applicable to a particular issuance of Assured Guaranty Municipal

45


Table of Contents


Holdings debt securities and any variations from the terms set forth below will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee. You should refer to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures and the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities for complete information regarding the terms and provisions of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures are substantially identical, except for the covenants of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL and provisions relating to subordination.

General

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities which Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may issue. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may issue Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures from time to time in one or more series. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, other than secured indebtedness which we, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or their respective subsidiaries may issue.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities will be unsecured obligations of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and will rank equally with all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior indebtedness, which term includes Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities, as described below under "Subordination of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities."

        Because Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its creditors, including you as a holder of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon that subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is a creditor of the subsidiary. The rights of creditors of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, including you as a holder of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings in its subsidiaries, including Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to the approval of insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the offered Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities:

    the title of the series;

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

    the principal payment dates;

    the interest rates, if any, or the method by which the interest rates will be determined, including, if applicable, any remarketing option or similar option. This interest rate may be zero in the case of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities issued at an issue price representing a discount from the principal amount payable at maturity;

46


Table of Contents

    the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

    the interest payment dates and regular record dates;

    whether and under what circumstances Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will pay additional amounts because of taxes or governmental charges that might be imposed on holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities in lieu of paying these additional amounts;

    the place or places where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be payable, where any of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities that are issued in registered form may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where any of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

    whether any of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are to be redeemable at the option of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which they may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings;

    whether Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will be obligated to redeem or purchase any of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at your option and, if so, the date or dates and other terms and conditions on which the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be redeemed or purchased pursuant to this obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities redeemed or purchased;

    if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities to be issued in registered form will be issuable and, if other than a denomination of $5,000, the denominations in which any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities to be issued in bearer form will be issuable;

    whether the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be convertible into other securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and/or exchangeable for securities of AGL or other issuers and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable;

    if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount, or the method by which this portion will be determined, of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    if other than United States dollars, the currency of payment in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be payable;

    whether the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be payable, at the election of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or you, in a currency other than that in which the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are stated to be payable and the dates and other terms upon which this election may be made;

47


Table of Contents

    any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    whether the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are to be issued in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security or securities;

    whether the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are senior or subordinated and, if subordinated, the applicable subordination provisions;

    in the case of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, the relative degree, if any, to which the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of the series and the related AGL guarantee will be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities and the related AGL guarantee(s) or other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, as the case may be, in right of payment, whether the other series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

    any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    whether the provisions described below under "Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" will be applicable to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    whether any of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities to be authenticated and delivered; and

    any other terms of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture in respect of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities.

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings has the ability under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures to reopen a previously issued series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and issue additional Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is also permitted to issue Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities with the same terms as previously issued Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of, premium and interest on and additional amounts, if any, on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will initially be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee, or any other office or agency designated by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings for this purpose. Interest on Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities issued in registered form:

    may be paid by check mailed to the persons entitled to the payments at their addresses appearing on the security register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States; and

    will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date with respect to the interest payment date.

48


Table of Contents

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will designate the initial paying agents, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and may, at any time, designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. However, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is required to maintain a paying agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are payable.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may present the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities for transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer if so required by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or the security registrar, or exchange for other Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, in each case at the office or agency maintained by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings for these purposes. This office will initially be the corporate trust office of the trustee. Any transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, although Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is not required to:

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing; or

    register the transfer of or exchange any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security being redeemed in part.

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings has appointed the trustee as security registrar. The security registrar and any transfer agent initially designated by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. At any time, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. However, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is required to maintain a transfer agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are payable.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will only issue the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. If the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are issued in bearer form, any restrictions and considerations, including offering restrictions and U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to, and to payment on and transfer and exchange of, these securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities, which means that they will bear no interest or bear interest at a rate which, at the time of issuance, is below market rates. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities issued as original issue discount securities will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. U.S. federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If the purchase price, or the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to, any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities is payable, or if any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are denominated, in one or more foreign currencies or

49


Table of Contents


currency units, the restrictions, elections, U.S. federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than as described below under "—Covenants Applicable to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Senior Debt Securities—Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries," the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures do not contain any provisions that would limit the ability of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in the credit quality of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL. Accordingly, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL could, in the future, enter into transactions that could increase the amount of its outstanding indebtedness that could affect its respective capital structure or credit rating.

AGL Guarantee

        We will fully and unconditionally guarantee all payments on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, our guarantee of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of AGL and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Our guarantee of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of AGL, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness.

        Since we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including you as a holder of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities who would be a creditor of ours by virtue of our guarantee, and shareholders to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we may be a creditor of the subsidiary. The right of our creditors, including you, to participate in the distribution of the stock owned by us in some of our subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

Conversion and Exchange

        The terms, if any, on which Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily or at your or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' option, common shares of AGL, preferred shares of AGL or other securities, whether or not issued by AGL, property or cash, or a combination of any of these, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Additional Amounts

        We will make all payments on Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities without withholding of any present or future taxes or governmental charges of Bermuda, referred to in this prospectus as a taxing jurisdiction, unless we are required to do so by applicable law or regulation.

        If we are required to withhold amounts, we will, subject to the limitations described below, pay to you additional amounts so that every net payment made to you, after the withholding, will not be the same amount provided for in the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security and the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture.

50


Table of Contents

        We will not be required to pay any additional amounts for:

    any tax or governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the fact that you:

    were a resident of, or engaged in business or maintained a permanent establishment or were physically present in, the taxing jurisdiction or otherwise had some connection with the taxing jurisdiction other than the mere ownership of, or receipt of payment on, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security;

    presented the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security for payment in the taxing jurisdiction, unless the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere; or

    presented the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security for payment more than 30 days after the date on which the payment became due, unless you would have been entitled to these additional amounts if you had presented the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security for payment within the 30-day period;

    any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax or other governmental charge;

    any tax or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld because of your failure to comply with any reasonable request by us:

    to provide information concerning your nationality, residence or identity or that of the beneficial owner; or

    to make any claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which in either case is required by the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of the tax or other governmental charge; or

    any combination of the above items.

        In addition, we will not pay additional amounts if you are a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security if the beneficiary or partner or settlor would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had it been the holder of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security.

Global Securities

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities may be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Interests in any global Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security will be shown on, and transfers of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants as described below.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Covenants Applicable to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Senior Debt Securities

    Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        Under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior indenture, each of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL has covenanted that, so long as any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities are outstanding, it will not, nor will it permit any subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any indebtedness secured by any security interest

51


Table of Contents

on any shares of capital stock of any designated subsidiary, unless Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL concurrently provide that the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities and, if Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL elect, any other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings that is not subordinate to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings is otherwise obligated, to provide such security, will be secured equally with the indebtedness for at least the time period the other indebtedness is so secured.

        The term "designated subsidiary" means any present or future consolidated subsidiary of AGL, the consolidated net worth of which constitutes at least 5% of the Company's consolidated net worth.

        For purposes of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures, the term "indebtedness" means, with respect to any person:

    the principal of and any premium and interest on:

    indebtedness for money borrowed; and

    indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which the person is responsible or liable;

    all capitalized lease obligations;

    all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement, but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

    all obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction, generally other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations, other than obligations of the type referred to above, entered into in the ordinary course of business to the extent these letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third business day following receipt by such person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons and all dividends of other persons for the payment of which, in either case, the person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise;

    all obligations of the type referred to above of other persons secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the person, whether or not the obligation is assumed by the person; and

    any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described above.

    Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior indenture also provides that, so long as any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities are outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures, neither Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings nor AGL will issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, capital stock, other than preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary. Similarly, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will not permit any designated subsidiary to issue, other than to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, these types of securities, warrants, rights or options, other than director's qualifying shares and preferred stock having no voting rights, of any

52


Table of Contents

designated subsidiary, if, after giving effect to the transaction and the issuance of the maximum number of shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise of all the convertible securities, warrants, rights or options, AGL would own, directly or indirectly, less than 80% of the shares of capital stock of the designated subsidiary, other than preferred stock having no voting rights.

        However, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of securities if the consideration is at least a fair market value as determined by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' board or if required by law or regulation. Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, as the case may be, may also merge or consolidate any designated subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect subsidiary of AGL, the shares of capital stock of which AGL owns at least 80% or, subject to the provisions described under "—Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets" below, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the entire capital stock of any designated subsidiary at one time if the consideration is at least fair market value as determined by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' or AGL's board.

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        Each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture provides that Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL may not:

    consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person; or

    permit any person to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, respectively, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, respectively;

unless:

    in the case of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, the person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

    in the case of AGL, the person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Bermuda or any other country that, on August 1, 1999, was a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;

    the surviving entity expressly assumes the payment of all amounts on all of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL debt securities and the performance of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' or AGL's obligations under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture and the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities or AGL indenture and AGL debt securities; and

    the surviving entity provides for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the AGL debt securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares or other securities; and

    immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL or a subsidiary as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL or the subsidiary at the time of the transaction, no event of default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default, will have happened and be continuing.

53


Table of Contents

Events of Default

        Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture, whether it 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:

    default in the payment of any interest on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security when the interest or additional amounts become due and payable, and continuance of this default for a period of 30 days;

    default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on, or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security when the principal, premium or additional amounts become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

    default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL for the benefit of the holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, and the continuance of this default or breach for a period of 60 days after Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings has received written notice from the holders;

    if any event of default under a mortgage, indenture or instrument under which AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may issue, or by which AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may secure or evidence, any indebtedness, including an event of default under any other series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, whether the indebtedness now exists or is later created or incurred, happens and consists of default in the payment of more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness at the maturity of the indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period, or results in the indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and this default is not cured or the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings has received written notice;

    Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;

    events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL; and

    any other event of default, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If an event of default with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series, other than events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the series may declare the principal amount, or a lesser amount as may be provided for in the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, of all outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the series to be immediately due and payable by written notice. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, generally, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the series may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration. Any event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization will cause the principal amount and accrued interest, or the lesser amount as provided for in the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

54


Table of Contents

        In connection with the issuance of any debt securities, the supplemental indenture shall provide that notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, the sole remedy for the failure by AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to comply with the covenant in the indenture requiring AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC ("AGL/Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' SEC filing obligations") and for any failure by AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, which similarly requires AGL or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to file with the trustee copies of the reports and other information it files with the SEC, shall, for the first 270 days after the occurrence of such failure consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the debt securities of such series at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of the debt securities. This additional interest will accrue on the debt securities from and including the date on which a failure to comply with AGL/Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' SEC filing obligations or the failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA first occurs to but not including the 270th day thereafter (or such earlier date on which such failure shall have been cured or waived). On such 270th day (or earlier, if such failure is cured or waived prior to such 270th day), such additional interest will cease to accrue and, if such failure has not been cured or waived prior to such 270th day, then either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately. However, prior to such 270th day, any such failure shall not be an event of default. This provision shall not affect the rights of holders in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default.

        Each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default the trustee must transmit, notice of the default to each holder of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security, the trustee may withhold this notice if and so long as the board of directors, executive committee or trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the best interest of the holders.

        If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series, the trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities by all appropriate judicial proceedings. Each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these indemnification provisions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series will generally 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 Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the series.

Modification and Waiver

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, AGL and the trustee may modify or amend either Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of each

55


Table of Contents


series affected by the modification or amendment, so long as the modification or amendment does not, without the consent of each affected holder:

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security;

    reduce the principal amount of, or the rate, or modify the calculation of the rate, of interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security;

    change the obligation of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL to pay additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security;

    reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the original issue discount security or the amount provable in bankruptcy;

    change the redemption provisions of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security;

    change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security is payable;

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security, or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the repayment date;

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take specific actions;

    reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    modify any of the provisions relating to the subordination of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities or the AGL guarantee in a manner adverse to the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    modify or effect in any manner adverse to the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities the terms and conditions of the obligations of AGL in respect of the due and punctual payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any sinking fund requirements or additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    modify any of the provisions regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of specified covenants by the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that other provisions of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security affected by the modification or waiver;

    make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security into or for other securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, AGL or other securities, cash or property in accordance with its terms; or

56


Table of Contents

    modify any of the above provisions.

        In addition, no supplemental indenture may, directly or indirectly, modify or eliminate the subordination provisions of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture in any manner which might terminate or impair the subordination of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities to senior indebtedness or the subordination of the related AGL guarantee to AGL senior indebtedness, without the prior written consent of the holders of the senior indebtedness or the AGL senior indebtedness, respectively.

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, AGL and the trustee may modify or amend the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture and the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder in order to, among other things:

    provide for a successor to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or sale of assets;

    add to the covenants of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL by the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture;

    provide for a successor trustee with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of all or any series;

    cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in either Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under either Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series;

    change the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities under either Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture;

    add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    secure the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities;

    provide for conversion or exchange rights of the holders of any series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities; or

    make any other change that does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of any Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities then outstanding under the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture.

        The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of that series, waive compliance by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL with specified covenants of the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities on behalf of the holders of all Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of that series may waive any past default and its consequences with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of that series, except a default:

    in the payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of the series; or

57


Table of Contents

    in respect of a covenant or provision of the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt security of any series affected.

        Under each Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture, each of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL must annually furnish the trustee a statement regarding its performance of specified obligations and any default in its performance under the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture. Each of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and AGL is also required to deliver to the trustee, within five days after its occurrence, written notice of any event of default, or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default, resulting from the failure to perform or breach of any covenant or warranty contained in the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture or the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities of any series.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL may discharge their payment obligations on the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, which we refer to as defeasance, or elect to be discharged from complying with the covenants in the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures, except for certain ministerial obligations, like registering transfers or exchanges of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

        Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL may only do this if, among other things:

    the defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL is a party or by which either or them is bound;

    no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be continuing on the date of establishment of the trust and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after that date; and

    Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL has delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that you will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. The opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the I.R.S. received by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings or AGL, a Revenue Ruling published by the I.R.S. or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indenture.

Subordination of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the

58


Table of Contents


holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series are entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of the senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution, which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings being subordinated to the payment of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

        By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, holders of senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings that are not subordinated to the senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings applicable to the senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities have been paid in full.

        No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities may be made by Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings if:

    any senior indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and the default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist; or

    the maturity of any senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings from incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to other obligations of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings. The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities will constitute senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        The term "senior indebtedness" means, with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings outstanding at any time, except:

    the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series;

    indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that the indebtedness is subordinated to or ranks equally with the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    indebtedness of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to an affiliate of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings;

    interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding unless the interest is an allowed claim enforceable against Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws; and

    trade accounts payable.

59


Table of Contents

        Senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness.

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to issuance of the applicable Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination of AGL Guarantee of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Subordinated Debt Securities

        The AGL guarantee of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of AGL of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of AGL, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all AGL senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment of the AGL senior indebtedness provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment from AGL on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of AGL senior indebtedness shall be entitled to receive any payment or distribution by AGL of any kind or character, including any payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by AGL by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of AGL being subordinated to the payment of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable by AGL in respect of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

        By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of AGL, holders of AGL senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of AGL that are not subordinated to the AGL senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        Subject to the payment in full of all AGL senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities under the AGL guarantee will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the AGL senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of AGL applicable to the AGL senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings senior debt securities have been paid in full.

        No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of any series may be made by AGL if:

    any AGL senior indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and the default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist; or

    the maturity of any AGL senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit AGL from incurring additional AGL senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the AGL guarantee of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, but

60


Table of Contents


subordinate to other obligations of AGL. The AGL senior debt securities will constitute AGL senior indebtedness with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        The term "AGL senior indebtedness" means, with respect to the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of AGL outstanding at any time, except:

    AGL's obligations under the AGL guarantee in respect of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities of that series;

    indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that the indebtedness is subordinated to or ranks equally with AGL's obligations under the AGL guarantee in respect of the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities;

    indebtedness of AGL to an affiliate of AGL;

    interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding unless the interest is an allowed claim enforceable against AGL in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws; and

    trade accounts payable.

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to the issuance of that series of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

New York Law to Govern

        The Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings indentures will be, and the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings debt securities and the AGL guarantee will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York.


DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS TO PURCHASE AGL
COMMON SHARES OR PREFERRED SHARES

        The following summary sets forth the material terms and provisions of the common share warrants and preferred share warrants, which would be issued pursuant to a stock warrant agreement between AGL and a stock warrant agent to be selected at the time of issue. The stock warrant agreement may include or incorporate by reference standard warrant provisions substantially in the form of the standard stock warrant provisions, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

        The stock warrants may be issued under the stock warrant agreement independently or together with any other securities offered by a prospectus supplement. If stock warrants are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the designation and terms of the stock warrants, including, without limitation, the following:

    the offering price, if any;

    the designation and terms of the common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of the stock warrants;

61


Table of Contents

    if applicable, the date on and after which the stock warrants and the related offered securities will be separately transferable;

    the number of common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of one stock warrant and the initial price at which shares may be purchased upon exercise of the stock warrant;

    the date on which the right to exercise the stock warrants shall commence and the date on which these rights shall expire;

    a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

    any call provisions;

    the currency in which the offering price, if any, and exercise price are payable;

    the antidilution provisions of the stock warrants; and

    any other terms of the stock warrants.

        The common shares or preferred shares issuable upon exercise of the stock warrants will, when issued in accordance with the stock warrant agreement, be fully paid and nonassessable. This means that the shares will be paid for in full at the time they are issued, and, once they are paid for in full, there will be no further liability for further assessments or taxation.

Exercise of Stock Warrants

        You may exercise your stock warrants by surrendering to the stock warrant agent your stock warrant certificate with the form of election to purchase on the reverse of the certificate properly completed and executed by you, or your authorized agent, which signature must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company, by a broker or dealer which is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., which we refer to in this prospectus as the NASD, or by a member of a national securities exchange. You must indicate on the form of election whether you are electing to exercise all or a portion of the stock warrants evidenced by the certificate. You must also submit a payment of the aggregate exercise price of the stock warrants to be exercised in lawful money of the United States along with your stock warrant certificates, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of the stock warrant certificate, form of election and aggregate payment, if applicable, by the stock warrant agent, the stock warrant agent will requisition from the transfer agent for the common shares or the preferred shares, as the case may be, a certificate representing the number of common shares or preferred shares purchased for issuance and delivery to you or upon your written order. If you exercise less than all of the stock warrants evidenced by any stock warrant certificate, the stock warrant agent shall deliver to you a new stock warrant certificate representing your unexercised stock warrants.

Anti-dilution and Other Provisions

        The exercise price payable, the number of common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon the exercise of each stock warrant and the number of stock warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment if specified events occur. These events include:

    the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of common shares or preferred shares; and

    a combination, subdivision or reclassification of common shares or preferred shares.

        In lieu of adjusting the number of common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of each stock warrant, AGL may elect to adjust the number of stock warrants. No adjustment in the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of the stock warrants will be required until cumulative

62


Table of Contents


adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in the number of shares purchasable. We may also, at our option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of stock warrants, but we will pay the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, in case of any consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of our property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, you, as a stock warrant holder, shall have the right to the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of common shares or preferred shares into which your stock warrants were exercisable immediately prior to this event.

No Rights as Shareholders

        You will not be entitled, by virtue of being a stock warrant holder, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as shareholders of AGL.

63


Table of Contents


DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES

        The following summary sets forth the material terms and provisions of the debt warrants, which would be issued pursuant to a debt warrant agreement between AGL and a debt warrant agent to be selected at the time of issue. The debt warrant agreement may include or incorporate by reference standard warrant provisions substantially in the form of the standard debt warrant provisions, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

        The debt warrants may be issued under the debt warrant agreement independently or together with any other securities offered by a prospectus supplement. If debt warrants are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the designation and terms of the debt warrants, including, without limitation, the following:

    the offering price, if any;

    the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the AGL debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

    if applicable, the date on and after which the debt warrants and the related offered securities will be separately transferable;

    the principal amount of AGL debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one debt warrant and the price at which the principal amount of AGL debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of the debt warrant;

    the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants shall commence and the date on which this right shall expire;

    a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

    whether the warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form;

    the currency, currencies or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and exercise price are payable;

    the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants; and

    any other terms of the debt warrants.

        You, as a debt warrant holder, will generally not have any of the rights of holders of AGL debt securities, including the right to receive the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the AGL debt securities or to enforce any of the covenants of the AGL debt securities or the applicable AGL indenture.

Exercise of Debt Warrants

        You may exercise your debt warrants by surrendering at the office of the debt warrant agent your debt warrant certificate with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side of the certificate properly completed and signed by you, which signature must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company, by a broker or dealer which is a member of the NASD or by a member of a national securities exchange. You must also submit a payment in full of the exercise price, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon the exercise of debt warrants, AGL will issue the AGL debt securities in authorized denominations in accordance with your instructions. If you exercise less than all of the debt warrants evidenced by your debt warrant certificate, a new debt warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining number of debt warrants.

64


Table of Contents


DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

        We may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating you to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to you, a specified number of common shares at a future date or dates. The price per common share may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts.

        The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of stock purchase units consisting of a stock purchase contract and, as security for your obligations to purchase the common shares under the stock purchase contracts, either:

    senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AGL; or

    debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities.

        The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to you or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require you to secure your obligations in a specified manner, and, in some circumstances, we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts upon release to you of any collateral securing your obligations under the original stock purchase contract.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid stock purchase contracts. However, that description will not purport to be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to:

    the stock purchase contracts;

    the collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units; and

    if applicable, the prepaid stock purchase contracts and the document pursuant to which the prepaid stock purchase contracts will be issued.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may sell offered securities in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:

    through agents;

    to or through underwriters;

    through dealers; or

    directly to purchasers.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the specific terms of the offering of the offered securities, including:

    the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

    the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings from the sale;

    any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation; and

    any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which the offered securities may be listed, any of which

65


Table of Contents

      initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        The distribution of the offered securities may be effected from time to time:

    in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

    at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

    at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

    at negotiated prices.

        Offers to purchase offered securities may be solicited by agents designated by AGL from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings to the agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the offered securities so offered and sold.

        If offered securities are sold to the public by means of an underwritten offering, either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by the managing underwriters, AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the offered securities. If underwriters are utilized in the sale of the offered securities, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

    negotiated transactions;

    at fixed public offering prices; or

    at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale.

        In addition, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to specified conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of offered securities will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities of a series if any are purchased.

        AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional offered securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, with additional underwriting discounts or commissions as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings grants any over-allotment option, the terms of the over-allotment option will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If a dealer is utilized in the sales of offered securities, AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings will sell the offered securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Any dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter of the offered securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

66


Table of Contents

        Offers to purchase offered securities may be solicited directly by AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and the sale of the offered securities may be made by AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings directly to institutional investors or others with respect to any resale of the offered securities. The terms of any of these sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Offered securities may also be offered and sold in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise by one or more remarketing firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the offered securities remarketed by them.

        Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms may be entitled, under agreements entered into with AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, to indemnification by AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, underwriters or dealers may be required to make.

        AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may authorize underwriters or other persons acting as AGL's and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings' and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings' agents to solicit offers by specified institutions to purchase offered securities from AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings, pursuant to contracts providing for payments and delivery on a future date, which will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. However, in all cases, these institutions must be approved by AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings. The obligations of any purchaser under any contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities shall not, at the time of delivery, be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

        Each series of offered securities will be a new issue and, other than the common shares, which are listed on the NYSE, will have no established trading market. AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange and, in the case of the common shares, on any additional exchange. However, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, none of AGL and/or Assured Guaranty US Holdings and/or Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings shall be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the offered securities.

        Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, AGL and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.


LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain matters as to U.S. and New York law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Certain matters as to Bermuda law will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman, Hamilton, Bermuda.

67


Table of Contents


EXPERTS

        The financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

        The financial statements of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K for July 1, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES
FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER MATTERS

        AGL is organized under the laws of Bermuda. In addition, some of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, and a portion of their assets and our assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. Therefore, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon AGL or its non-U.S. directors and officers or to recover against us or our non-U.S. directors and officers on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial jurisdiction under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability, including the possibility of monetary damages, on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. However, we may be served with process in the United States with respect to actions against us arising out of or in connection with violations of U.S. federal securities laws relating to offers and sales of common shares made hereby by serving our U.S. agent irrevocably appointed for that purpose.

        We have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman, our special Bermuda counsel, that there is doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our directors and officers, as well as the experts named herein, predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or original actions brought in Bermuda against us or such persons predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws. A Bermuda court would likely enforce a final and conclusive judgment in personam, which means a judgment against a specific person rather than against specific property, obtained in a court in the United States under which a sum of money is payable, other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a similar nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty, provided that the Bermuda court was satisfied that each of the following conditions was met:

    the U.S. court had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment;

    the U.S. court did not contravene the rules of natural justice of Bermuda;

    the judgment of the U.S. court was not obtained by fraud;

    the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of Bermuda;

    no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of Bermuda; and

    there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of Bermuda.

        Further, we have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman that there is no treaty in effect between the United States and Bermuda providing for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, and there

68


Table of Contents


are grounds upon which Bermuda courts may not enforce judgments of U.S. courts. Some remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including some remedies available under the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be allowed in Bermuda courts as contrary to that jurisdiction's public policy. Because judgments of U.S. courts are not automatically enforceable in Bermuda, it may be difficult for you to recover against us based upon such judgments.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        AGL files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. AGL's SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov . You may read and copy any document we file in the SEC's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like AGL, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov . The SEC file number for documents AGL files under the Exchange Act is 001-32141. AGL's SEC filings are also available at the office of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. For further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the NYSE, you should call (212) 656-5060.

        AGL is allowed to "incorporate by reference" information filed with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that AGL files subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information included and/or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. AGL incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by it with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the after the initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to the time that AGL sells all of the securities offered by this prospectus:

    AGL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009;

    AGL's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009, March 15, 2010, March 22, 2010 (filed items only) and March 30, 2010; and

    The description of AGL's common shares contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated April 15, 2004, of AGL, filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

        You may request a copy of these filings, other than exhibits unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Investor Relations
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
30 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda
Telephone: (441) 279-5700

69


Table of Contents


PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.    OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

        The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the registrants, in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

SEC Registration Fee

  $ 47,114 (1)

Accounting fees and expenses

      (2)

Legal fees and expenses

      (2)

Printing fees

      (2)

Rating agency fees

      (2)

Trustee fees and expenses

      (2)

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

      (2)
       

Total

  $   (2)
       

(1)
Plus amounts deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(2)
Because an indeterminate amount of securities are covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of securities are not currently determinable. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with each sale of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

ITEM 15.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

        Bye-law 30 of Registrant's Bye-Laws provides, among other things, that the directors, secretary, other officers (such term to include for purposes of Bye-laws 30 and 31 any person appointed to any committee by the board of directors and any person who is or was serving the request of Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and the resident representative for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of Registrant and the liquidator or trustees (if any) for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of Registrant and every one of them, and their heirs, executors and administrators: (i) shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets of Registrant from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their heirs, executors or administrators shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty, or supposed duty, or in their respective offices or trusts, and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of the others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects belonging to Registrant shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or belonging to Registrant shall be placed out on or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, provided that this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of fraud or dishonesty; (ii) shall not be liable for he acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or other person, or for any loss or expense incurred by Registrant through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the board of directors for or on behalf of Registrant, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of Registrant is invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities or effects is deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default or oversight on his or

II-1


Table of Contents


her part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of the duties of his or her office, or in relation thereto, unless the same happens through fraud or dishonesty on his or her part; and (iii) shall be indemnified out of the assets of Registrant against all liabilities, losses, costs and expenses which he or she or any of his or her heirs, executors or administrators, incur or may incur or sustain, by or by reason of any act, by such person, or other person or a collective of persons (including, without limitation, the board of directors), or by Registrant, done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of his, her or their duty, or supposed duty, or in his, her or their respective offices or trusts, in defending or appearing or giving evidence in any proceedings (such term to include, for the purposes of Bye-law 30, threatened proceedings, investigations and enquiries, whether by a regulatory authority, prosecutions authority or otherwise), whether civil or criminal, including where allegations of fraud and dishonesty are made against such director or other person, and Registrant shall pay to or on behalf of such director or other person any and all funds associated in defending or appearing or giving evidence in such proceedings (including, without limitation, independent representation and counseling by an attorney or other professional selected by such director or other person concerned) as and when such liabilities, losses, costs and expenses are incurred, provided that, in the event of a finding of fraud or dishonesty (such fraud or dishonesty having been established in a final judgment or decree not subject to appeal), such director or other person shall reimburse to Registrant all funds paid by Registrant in respect of liabilities, losses, costs and expenses of defending such proceedings. The provisions of Bye-law 30 (and Bye-law 31) shall apply to, and for the benefit of, any person acting as (or with the reasonable belief that he or she will be appointed or elected as) a director, secretary, other officer, the resident representative, or liquidator or trustee in the reasonable belief that he or she has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election and to any person who is no longer, but at one time was, a director, secretary, other officer, resident representative or liquidator or trustee of Registrant.

        Bye-law 31 of Registrant's Bye-Laws provides that Registrant and each shareholder agree to waive any claim or right of action it might have, whether individually or by or in the right of Registrant, against any director, secretary, other officer, resident representative or liquidator or trustee of Registrant on account of any action taken by such director or other such person, or the failure of such director or other such person to take any action in the performance of his or her duties with or for Registrant, provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to such director or other such person.

        The Companies Act provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to them as a result of any negligence, default, breach of trust of which they may be guilty. However, the Companies Act also provides that any provision, whether contained in the company's bye-laws or in a contract or arrangement between the company and the director, indemnifying such director against any liability which would attach to him in respect of his fraud or dishonesty will be void.

        Certain of Registrant's executive officers have employment agreements that provide that they are entitled to indemnification in accordance with the Registrant's Bye-Laws and other governing documents. In addition, Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide for indemnification arising out of specified indemnifiable events, such as events relating to the fact that the indemnitee is or was one of Registrant's directors or officers or is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity at Registrant's request or relating to anything done or not done by the indemnitee in such a capacity. The indemnification agreements provide for advancement of expenses. These agreements provide for mandatory indemnification to the extent an indemnitee is successful on the merits. To the extent that indemnification is unavailable, the agreements provide for contribution. The indemnification

II-2


Table of Contents


agreements set forth procedures relating to indemnification claims. The agreements also provide for maintenance of directors' and officer's liability insurance.

        Registrant has purchased directors' and officers' liability insurance policies. Such insurance would be available to Registrant's directors' and officers' in accordance with its terms. In addition, certain directors may be covered by directors and officers liability insurance policies purchased by their respective employers.

        The Registrant expects that any underwriting agreement that it may enter in connection with the securities registered pursuant to the registration statement may contain provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify the directors, certain officers and the controlling persons of Registrant against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        As described in the Registrant's Proxy Statement filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 24, 2010, at the Registrant's annual meeting to be held on May 6, 2010, the Registrant's shareholders will be voting on proposals to amend and restate the Registrant's Bye-Laws, including certain of the indemnification provisions contained in the Registrant's current Bye-Laws. If the Registrant's shareholders approve the amendment and restatement of its Bye-Laws, the Registrant will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to report such amendment and restatement.

Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") provides, among other things, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, agent or employee of the corporation or is or was serving at the corporation's request as a director, officer, agent, or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (a) if such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (b) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest, or not opposed to the best interest, of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense expenses (including attorneys' fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event of any adjudication of negligence or misconduct in the performance of duties to the corporation, unless the court believes that in light of all the circumstances indemnification should apply.

        The by-laws of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. ("Holdings") provide that Holdings must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and require Holdings to advance litigation expenses upon its receipt of an undertaking by a director or officer to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such director or officer is not entitled to indemnification. The indemnification provisions contained in Holdings' by-laws are not exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The officers and directors of Holdings are also covered by the indemnification provisions of Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s ("AGL") by-laws discussed below.

        AGL has purchased directors and officers liability insurance policies. Such insurance would be available to Holdings' directors and officers in accordance with its terms.

II-3


Table of Contents

        Holdings expects that any underwriting agreement that it may enter in connection with the securities registered pursuant to the registration statement may contain provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify the directors, certain officers and the controlling persons of Holdings against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.

        Pursuant to the New York Business Corporation Law (the "NYBCL"), Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. ("AGMH") has the power to indemnify certain persons, including its officers and directors, under stated circumstances and subject to certain limitations in connection with services performed in good faith for AGMH.

        Under AGMH's by-laws, any person made or threatened to be made a party to any civil or criminal action or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she or his or her testator or intestate is or was AGMH's director or officer, or served any other corporation or entity of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, in any capacity, at AGMH's request, shall be indemnified against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses; provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of such person unless such he or she acted in good faith, for a purpose which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for any other corporation or entity, not opposed to, the best interests of AGMH and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

        The indemnification provided in the NYBCL is not exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer may be entitled, whether contained in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or, when authorized by the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws, a shareholders' or directors' resolution or an indemnification agreement, except that no indemnification may be made in any case if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled.

        AGL has purchased directors and officers liability insurance policies. Such insurance would be available to AGMH's directors and officers in accordance with its terms.

        AGMH expects that any underwriting agreement that it may enter in connection with the securities registered pursuant to the registration statement may contain provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify the directors, certain officers and the controlling persons of AGMH against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ITEM 16.    EXHIBITS.

        See the Exhibit Index, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 17.    UNDERTAKINGS.

        The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

        (a)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

              (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

             (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration

II-4


Table of Contents


    statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;

            (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided , however , that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

        (b)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

        (d)   That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

              (i)  each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

             (ii)  each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided , however , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

        (e)   That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the

II-5


Table of Contents

securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrants will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

              (i)  Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

             (ii)  Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned Registrant;

            (iii)  The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant; and

            (iv)  Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

        The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the provisions set forth or described in Item 15 of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrants have been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. If a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        (f)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under Subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act ("Act") in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

II-6


Table of Contents


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Assured Guaranty Ltd. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Hamilton, Bermuda, on the 30 th  day of March, 2010.


 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT MILLS

Name:  Robert Mills
Title:    
Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

*


Walter A. Scott
 

Chairman of the Board; Director

  March 30, 2010

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO


Dominic J. Frederico
 

President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer); Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT MILLS


Robert Mills
 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT A. BAILENSON


Robert A. Bailenson
 

Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 30, 2010

*


Neil Baron
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Francisco Borges
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


G. Lawrence Buhl
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Stephen A. Cozen
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Patrick W. Kenny
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Donald Layton
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

II-7


Table of Contents

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

*


Robin Monro-Davies
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Michael O'Kane
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

*


Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
 

Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO


Dominic J. Frederico
 

Authorized Representative in the United States

 

March 30, 2010

*By:

 

/s/ JAMES M. MICHENER


Name: James M. Michener
Attorney-in-Fact
       

II-8


Table of Contents


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on the 30 th  day of March, 2010.


 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY US HOLDINGS INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT MILLS  
       
Name:  Robert Mills
Title:    
Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO


Dominic J. Frederico
 

President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

  March 30, 2010

/s/ SÉAN W. MCCARTHY


Séan W. McCarthy
 

Chief Operating Officer; Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT MILLS


Robert Mills
 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer); Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT A. BAILENSON


Robert A. Bailenson
 

Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ JAMES M. MICHENER


James M. Michener
 

General Counsel and Secretary; Director

 

March 30, 2010

II-9


Table of Contents


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on the 30 th  day of March, 2010.


 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT MILLS  
       
Name:  Robert Mills
Title:    
Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO


Dominic J. Frederico
 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

  March 30, 2010

/s/ SÉAN W. MCCARTHY


Séan W. McCarthy
 

Chief Operating Officer; Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT MILLS


Robert Mills
 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer); Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT A. BAILENSON


Robert A. Bailenson
 

Managing Director and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ JAMES M. MICHENER


James M. Michener
 

General Counsel and Secretary; Director

 

March 30, 2010

II-10


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
  Description
  1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to common shares*

 

1.2

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to preference shares and depositary shares*

 

1.3

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to debt securities*

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum of Association of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 (333-111491) filed by the Registrant on April 2, 2004.)

 

3.2

 

Bye-Laws of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (333-111491) filed by the Registrant on May 3, 2004.)

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.3 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (333-115173) filed by Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. on May 12, 2004.)

 

3.4

 

Bylaws of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.4 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (333-115173) filed by Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. on May 12, 2004.)

 

4.1

 

Specimen Common Share Certificate (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 (333-111491) filed by the Registrant on April 2, 2004.)

 

4.2

 

Form of Senior Indenture of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 (333-125382) filed by the Registrant on June 29, 2005.)

 

4.3

 

Form of Subordinated Indenture Assured Guaranty Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.3 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 (333-125382) filed by the Registrant on June 29, 2005.)

 

4.4

 

Form of Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty Ltd.*

 

4.5

 

Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2004, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.)

 

4.6

 

Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2006, entered into among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to the current report on form 8-K filed on December 20, 2006.)

 

4.7

 

Form of Debt Securities of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.*

 

4.8

 

Form of Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights relating to the preferred shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.*

 

4.9

 

Form of Deposit Agreement, including the form of depositary receipt*

 

4.10

 

Form of Warrant Agreement*

 

4.11

 

Form of Share Purchase Contract Agreement*

 

4.12

 

Form of Share Purchase Units*

 

4.13

 

Form of Senior Indenture, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee

II-11


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description
  4.14   Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman**

 

5.2

 

Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP (Assured Guaranty US Holdings)**

 

5.3

 

Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP (Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings)

 

12.1

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

23.1

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Assured Guaranty Ltd.)

 

23.2

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings)

 

23.3

 

Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

23.4

 

Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)

 

23.5

 

Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3)

 

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney—Assured Guaranty Ltd.**

 

24.2

 

Powers of Attorney—Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.**

 

24.3

 

Additional Power of Attorney—Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.

 

24.4

 

Powers of Attorney—Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.

 

25.1

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Senior Indenture*

 

25.2

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Subordinated*

 

25.3

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. Senior Indenture*

 

25.4

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. Subordinated Indenture*

 

25.5

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. Senior Indenture*

 

25.6

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. Subordinated Indenture*

 

99.1

 

Form F-N**

*
To be filed by post-effective amendment or on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities.

**
Previously filed

II-12




Exhibit 4.13

 

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.,

Issuer

 

and

 

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.,

Guarantor

to

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

 

 

 

Dated as of [ · ]

 



 

Reconciliation and tie between

Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”)

and Indenture

 

Trust Indenture

 

 

Act Section

 

Indenture Section

 

 

 

§§310(a)(1)

 

6.7

(a)(2)

 

6.7

(b)

 

6.8

§§312(a)

 

7.1

(b)

 

7.2

(c)

 

7.2

§§313(a)

 

7.3

(b)(2)

 

7.3

(c)

 

7.3

(d)

 

7.3

§§314(a)

 

7.4

(c)(1)

 

1.2

(c)(2)

 

1.2

(e)

 

1.2

(f)

 

1.2

§§316(a) (last sentence)

 

1.1

(a)(1)(A)

 

5.2, 5.12

(a)(1)(B)

 

5.13

(b)

 

5.8

§§317(a)(1)

 

5.3

(a)(2)

 

5.4

(b)

 

10.3

§§318(a)

 

10.8

 

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

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

2

 

 

SECTION 1.1

Definitions

2

 

 

 

SECTION 1.2

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

12

 

 

 

SECTION 1.3

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

12

 

 

 

SECTION 1.4

Acts of Holders

13

 

 

 

SECTION 1.5

Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor

16

 

 

 

SECTION 1.6

Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver

16

 

 

 

SECTION 1.7

Language of Notices

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.8

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.9

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.10

Successors and Assigns

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.11

Separability Clause

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.12

Benefits of Indenture

17

 

 

 

SECTION 1.13

Governing Law

18

 

 

 

SECTION 1.14

Legal Holidays

18

 

 

 

SECTION 1.15

Counterparts

18

 

 

 

SECTION 1.16

Judgment Currency

18

 

 

 

SECTION 1.17

No Security Interest Created

19

 

 

 

SECTION 1.18

Limitation on Individual Liability

19

 

 

 

SECTION 1.19

Submission to Jurisdiction

19

 

 

 

SECTION 1.20

Waiver of Jury Trial

20

 

 

 

SECTION 1.21

Force Majeure

20

 

 

ARTICLE 2

SECURITIES FORMS

21

 

 

SECTION 2.1

Forms Generally

21

 

 

 

SECTION 2.2

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

21

 

 

 

SECTION 2.3

Securities in Global Form

22

 

 

ARTICLE 3

THE SECURITIES

22

 

 

SECTION 3.1

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

22

 

 

 

SECTION 3.2

Currency; Denominations

27

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

SECTION 3.3

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

27

 

 

 

SECTION 3.4

Temporary Securities

29

 

 

 

SECTION 3.5

Registration, Transfer and Exchange

30

 

 

 

SECTION 3.6

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

33

 

 

 

SECTION 3.7

Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved

34

 

 

 

SECTION 3.8

Persons Deemed Owners

36

 

 

 

SECTION 3.9

Cancellation

37

 

 

 

SECTION 3.10

Computation of Interest

37

 

 

 

SECTION 3.11

CUSIP Numbers

37

 

 

ARTICLE 4

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

37

 

 

SECTION 4.1

Satisfaction and Discharge

37

 

 

 

SECTION 4.2

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

39

 

 

 

SECTION 4.3

Application of Trust Money

44

 

 

ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

44

 

 

SECTION 5.1

Events of Default

44

 

 

 

SECTION 5.2

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

47

 

 

 

SECTION 5.3

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

48

 

 

 

SECTION 5.4

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

49

 

 

 

SECTION 5.5

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons

50

 

 

 

SECTION 5.6

Application of Money Collected

51

 

 

 

SECTION 5.7

Limitations on Suits

51

 

 

 

SECTION 5.8

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

52

 

 

 

SECTION 5.9

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

52

 

 

 

SECTION 5.10

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

52

 

 

 

SECTION 5.11

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

52

 

 

 

SECTION 5.12

Control by Holders of Securities

53

 

 

 

SECTION 5.13

Waiver of Past Defaults

53

 

 

 

SECTION 5.14

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

53

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

SECTION 5.15

Undertaking for Costs

54

 

 

ARTICLE 6

THE TRUSTEE

54

 

 

SECTION 6.1

Certain Rights of Trustee

54

 

 

 

SECTION 6.2

Notice of Defaults

56

 

 

 

SECTION 6.3

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

56

 

 

 

SECTION 6.4

May Hold Securities

57

 

 

 

SECTION 6.5

Money Held in Trust

57

 

 

 

SECTION 6.6

Compensation and Reimbursement

57

 

 

 

SECTION 6.7

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

58

 

 

 

SECTION 6.8

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

58

 

 

 

SECTION 6.9

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

60

 

 

 

SECTION 6.10

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

61

 

 

 

SECTION 6.11

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

62

 

 

ARTICLE 7

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY

64

 

 

SECTION 7.1

Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

64

 

 

 

SECTION 7.2

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

64

 

 

 

SECTION 7.3

Reports by Trustee

64

 

 

 

SECTION 7.4

Reports by Company and Guarantor

65

 

 

ARTICLE 8

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES

66

 

 

SECTION 8.1

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

66

 

 

 

SECTION 8.2

Successor Person Substituted for Company

66

 

 

 

SECTION 8.3

Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

66

 

 

 

SECTION 8.4

Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor

68

 

 

ARTICLE 9

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

68

 

 

SECTION 9.1

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

68

 

 

 

SECTION 9.2

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

69

 

 

 

SECTION 9.3

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

71

 

 

 

SECTION 9.4

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

71

 

 

 

SECTION 9.5

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

71

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

SECTION 9.6

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

71

 

 

 

SECTION 9.7

Notice of Supplemental Indenture

72

 

 

ARTICLE 10

COVENANTS

72

 

 

SECTION 10.1

Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

72

 

 

 

SECTION 10.2

Maintenance of Office or Agency

72

 

 

 

SECTION 10.3

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

73

 

 

 

SECTION 10.4

Additional Amounts

75

 

 

 

SECTION 10.5

Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

76

 

 

 

SECTION 10.6

Limitation on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

76

 

 

 

SECTION 10.7

Corporate Existence

77

 

 

 

SECTION 10.8

Waiver of Certain Covenants

77

 

 

 

SECTION 10.9

Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults

77

 

 

 

SECTION 10.10

Guarantor Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults

78

 

 

ARTICLE 11

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

78

 

 

SECTION 11.1

Applicability of Article

78

 

 

 

SECTION 11.2

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

79

 

 

 

SECTION 11.3

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

79

 

 

 

SECTION 11.4

Notice of Redemption

79

 

 

 

SECTION 11.5

Deposit of Redemption Price

81

 

 

 

SECTION 11.6

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

81

 

 

 

SECTION 11.7

Securities Redeemed in Part

82

 

 

ARTICLE 12

SINKING FUNDS

83

 

 

SECTION 12.1

Applicability of Article

83

 

 

 

SECTION 12.2

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

83

 

 

 

SECTION 12.3

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

83

 

 

ARTICLE 13

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

84

 

 

SECTION 13.1

Applicability of Article

84

 

 

ARTICLE 14

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

84

 

iv



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

SECTION 14.1

Applicability of Article

84

 

 

ARTICLE 15

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

85

 

 

SECTION 15.1

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

85

 

 

 

SECTION 15.2

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

85

 

 

 

SECTION 15.3

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

86

 

 

 

SECTION 15.4

Quorum; Action

86

 

 

 

SECTION 15.5

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

87

 

 

 

SECTION 15.6

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

87

 

 

ARTICLE 16

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

88

 

 

SECTION 16.1

The Guarantee

88

 

 

 

SECTION 16.2

Net Payments

88

 

 

 

SECTION 16.3

Guarantee Unconditional, etc

90

 

 

 

SECTION 16.4

Reinstatement

91

 

 

 

SECTION 16.5

Subrogation

91

 

 

 

SECTION 16.6

Indemnity

91

 

 

 

SECTION 16.7

Payment of Fees

92

 

v


 

INDENTURE, dated as of [ · ](the “Indenture”), among ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at c/o Assured Guaranty Corp., 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York, 10019, ASSURED GUARANTY LTD., a company duly organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda (hereinafter called the “Guarantor”), having its principal executive office at 30 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West, New York, New York 10286.

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its senior unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

For value received, the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Guarantee and the indemnity provided for herein. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

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

 



 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 1.1         Definitions.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

 

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

 

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

 

(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 terms “generally accepted accounting principles” or “GAAP” 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 or time of such computation;

 

(4)                                   the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” 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; and

 

(5)                                   the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not “either A or B but not both”). Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles.

 

“Act” when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company or the Guarantor in respect of certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

2



 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not published on days that are Legal Holidays in the place of publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

 

“Authorized Officer” means, when used with respect to the Company, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company.

 

“Bearer Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 2.1 which is payable to bearer.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company hereunder.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day,” with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means an obligation under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with such principles.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“Common Stock” in respect of any Corporation means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which has no preference as to the payment of dividends, or as to the

 

3



 

distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, and which is not subject to redemption by such Corporation.

 

“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, and any other obligor upon the Securities.

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Consolidated Net Worth” in respect of any Person means the total of the amounts shown on the balance sheet of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of such Person ending at least 45 days prior to the taking of any action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as (i) the par or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of such Person plus (ii) paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock plus (iii) any retained earnings or earned surplus, less any accumulated deficit.

 

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (ii) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West, New York, New York 10286.

 

“Corporation” includes corporations and limited liability companies and, except for purposes of Article 8, associations, companies and business trusts.

 

“Coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

 

“Currency,” with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

 

“CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, CUSIP Service Bureau.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

4



 

“Designated Subsidiary” means any present or future consolidated Subsidiary of the Guarantor, the Consolidated Net Worth of which constitutes at least 5% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Guarantor.

 

“Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

 

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

 

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Guarantee” means the unconditional guarantee of the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities by the Guarantor, as more fully set forth in Article 16.

 

“Guarantor” means the Person named as the “Guarantor” 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 “Guarantor” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Guarantor’s Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Guarantor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Guarantor hereunder.

 

5



 

“Guarantor’s Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor to have been duly adopted by the Guarantor’s Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel, any Vice President or the Secretary of the Guarantor, that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trustee Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Guarantor Request” and “Guarantor Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Guarantor by the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel, any Vice President or the Secretary, of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Holder,” in the case of any Registered Security, means the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of any Bearer Security, means the bearer thereof and, in the case of any Coupon, means the bearer thereof.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable; (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit); (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and (vii) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (i) through (vi) above.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security

 

6



 

and any Coupon appertaining thereto established pursuant to Section 3.1 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof).

 

“Independent Public Accountants” means accountants or a firm of accountants that, with respect to the Company, the Guarantor and any other obligor under the Securities or the Coupons, are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the independent public accountants regularly retained by the Company or the Guarantor or who may be other independent public accountants. Such accountants or firm shall be entitled to rely upon any Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to this Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.

 

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

“Interest,” with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.4 or 16.2, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

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

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“Legal Holidays” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

 

“Lien” has the meaning specified in Section 10.5.

 

“Maturity,” with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or repurchase, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise, and includes the Redemption Date.

 

“New York Banking Day” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“Office” or “Agency,” with respect to any Securities, means an office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or any other office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 10.2 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

7



 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture which provides for declaration of an amount less than the principal face amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

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

 

(a)                                   any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation;

 

(b)                                  any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 4.2) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or the Guarantor) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company or the Guarantor (if the Company shall act as its own, or authorize the Guarantor to act as, Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(c)                                   any such Security with respect to which the Company or the Guarantor has effected defeasance pursuant to the terms hereof, except to the extent provided in Section 4.2;

 

(d)                                  any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company; and

 

8



 

(e)                                   any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into securities of the Company or the Guarantor or another issuer, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 3.1;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto or an Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security or any Coupon on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment,” with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

 

9


 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or any Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

“Preferred Stock” in respect of any Corporation means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Corporation.

 

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

 

“Redemption Price,” with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 2.1 which is registered in a Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the “Regular Record Date”.

 

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“Responsible Officer” means any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, or any trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of Indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

 

10



 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Registered Security means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7.

 

“Stated Maturity,” with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means, in respect of any Person, any Corporation, limited or general partnership or other business entity of which at the time of determination more than 50% of the voting power of the shares of its Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

 

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

 

“United States,” except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

“United States Alien,” except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

“U.S. Depository” or “Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as U.S. Depository or Depository by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, which Person must be, to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, if so provided with respect to any Security, any

 

11



 

successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Depository” or “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

 

“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”.

 

SECTION 1.2         Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate or a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 1.3         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 as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

12



 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or the Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, provided that such officer, after reasonable inquiry, has no reason to believe and does not believe that the Opinion of Counsel with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based is erroneous. Any such 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, provided that such counsel, after reasonable inquiry, has no reason to believe and does not believe 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 or any Security, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 1.4         Acts of Holders.

 

(1)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be given 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. If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 15, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantor or both of them. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor and any agent of the Trustee, the Company or the Guarantor, if made in the manner provided in this Section.  The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.6.  Without limiting the generality of this Section 1.4, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such

 

13



 

global Security through such U.S. Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

The Company shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any permanent global Security held by a U.S. Depository entitled under the procedures of such U.S. Depository to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.  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 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 1.6.

 

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 5.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, 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.  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 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 1.6.

 

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.

 

(2)           The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing referred to in this Section 1.4 may be proved in any reasonable manner; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

 

(3)           The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(4)           The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of

 

14



 

holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depository, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depository reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depository, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (i) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (ii) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (iii) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (iv) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee deem sufficient.

 

(5)           If the Company or the Guarantor shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(6)           Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by 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 or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, the Guarantor or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

 

15



 

SECTION 1.5         Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor.

 

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

 

(1)           the Trustee by any Holder, the Guarantor or 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, or

 

(2)           the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, by the Trustee or 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, with a copy to the attention of its General Counsel, at the address of its 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 1.6         Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

 

(1)           such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; and

 

(2)           such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if such Securities are then listed on any stock exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city as the Company shall advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date and the second such publication not later than the latest date prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the 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.  In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by

 

16



 

reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearers Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.  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 of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

SECTION 1.7         Language of Notices.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

SECTION 1.8         Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed hereon by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.

 

SECTION 1.9         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 1.10       Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.11       Separability Clause.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.12       Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any

 

17



 

Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities or Coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1.13       Governing Law.

 

This Indenture, the Securities and any Coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state (without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof).

 

SECTION 1.14       Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange Securities of a series that are convertible or exchangeable, shall be a Legal Holiday at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon other than a provision in any Security or Coupon that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof) payment need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, and such Securities need not be converted or exchanged on such date but such payment may be made, and such Securities may be converted or exchanged, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be, to such next succeeding Business Day.

 

SECTION 1.15       Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 1.16       Judgment Currency.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the requisite amount of the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual

 

18



 

receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

 

SECTION 1.17       No Security Interest Created.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 10.5, nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect in any jurisdiction where property of the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Subsidiaries is or may be located.

 

SECTION 1.18       Limitation on Individual Liability.

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder (except in a shareholder’s corporate capacity as Guarantor), officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, either directly or through the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, shareholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 Security or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, 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, shareholder, officer or director, 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 Security 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 issuance of such Security.

 

SECTION 1.19       Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each agrees that any judicial proceedings instituted in relation to any matter arising under this Indenture, the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be brought in any United States Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York to the extent that such court has

 

19



 

subject matter jurisdiction over the controversy, and, by execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantor each hereby irrevocably accepts, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts, acknowledges their competence and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgement rendered in such proceeding. The Company and the Guarantor each also irrevocably and unconditionally waives for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and Coupons any immunity from jurisdiction and any immunity from legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgement, attachment in the aid of execution, execution or otherwise) in respect of this Indenture. The Company and the Guarantor each hereby irrevocably designates and appoints for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and Coupons for the term of this Indenture Assured Guaranty Corp., 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, as its agent to receive on its behalf service of all process (with a copy of all such service of process to be delivered to James M. Michener, General Counsel and Secretary, Assured Guaranty Ltd., 30 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda) brought against it with respect to any such proceeding in any such court in The City of New York, such service being hereby acknowledged by each of the Company and the Guarantor to be effective and binding service on it in every respect whether or not the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall then be doing or shall have at any time done business in New York. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Securities or Coupons or the respective obligations of the Company and the Guarantor hereunder remain outstanding, or until the appointment of a successor by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and such successor’s acceptance of such appointment. Upon such acceptance, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of such successor. The Company and the Guarantor each further agrees for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and the Coupons to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of said Assured Guaranty Corp. in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities or Coupons or the respective obligations of the Company and the Guarantor hereunder shall be outstanding. The Trustee shall not be obligated and shall have no responsibility with respect to any failure by the Company or the Guarantor to take any such action. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by any law or limit the right of the Trustee or any Holder to institute proceedings against the Company or the Guarantor in the courts of any other jurisdiction or jurisdictions.

 

SECTION 1.20       Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY 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, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 1.21       Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or

 

20



 

terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

SECTION 2.1         Forms Generally.

 

Each Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon and temporary or permanent global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto in accordance with Section 3.1, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Security or Coupon as evidenced by their execution of such Security or Coupon.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons and shall not be issuable upon the exercise of warrants.

 

Definitive Securities and definitive Coupons shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities or Coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or Coupons.

 

SECTION 2.2         Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

Subject to Section 6.11, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

21


 

SECTION 2.3         Securities in Global Form.

 

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.1 that Securities of a series shall be issuable in global form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver, in each case at the Company’s expense, any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 3.1         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.

 

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,

 

22



 

(1)           the title of such Securities and the series in which such Securities shall be included;

 

(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such title or the Securities of such 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 such series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.5 or 11.7, upon repayment in part of any Registered Security of such series pursuant to Article 13, upon surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion into other securities of the Company or exchange for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer pursuant to its terms, or pursuant to or as contemplated by the terms of such Securities);

 

(3)           if such Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities, as Bearer Securities or alternatively as Bearer Securities and Registered Securities, and whether the Bearer Securities are to be issuable with Coupons, without Coupons or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the Bearer Securities and the terms, if any, upon which Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa;

 

(4)           whether and when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i)  whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 3.5, and (iii) the name of the Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, with respect to any such global Security;

 

(5)           if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities or in global form, the date as of which any such Bearer Security or global Security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be issued);

 

(6)           if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary Bearer Security in global form payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the exchange, if any, of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)           the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal and premium (if any) of such Securities are payable;

 

23



 

(8)           the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(9)           if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a global Security on an Interest Payment Date, will be paid and the manner in which any principal of or premium, if any, on any global Security will be paid;

 

(10)         whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

(11)         whether the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;

 

(12)         if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable;

 

(13)         any of such Securities that are Bearer Securities shall be issuable if other than the denomination of $5,000;

 

(14)         whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into other securities of the Company and/or exchangeable for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture to

 

24



 

permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

 

(15)         if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

(16)         if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;

 

(17)         if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in Dollars or in a Foreign Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

 

(18)         whether the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or methods (which index, formula or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity securities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

 

(19)         any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any of such Securities, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(20)         whether either or both of Section 4.2(2) relating to defeasance or Section 4.2(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series, or any covenants in addition to those specified in Section 4.2(3) relating to the Securities of such series which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article 4 in respect of the Securities of such series;

 

25



 

(21)         whether any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

(22)         if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(23)         if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities;

 

(24)         any terms applicable to Original Issue Discount (as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), if any, including the rate or rates at which such Original Issue Discount, if any, shall accrue;

 

(25)         any proposed listing on any national or foreign securities exchange of the Securities of the series; and

 

(26)         any other terms of such Securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.  All Securities of any one series and all Coupons, if any, appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder, denomination and the rate of interest thereon, or method of determining the rate of interest, if any, Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution and set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon written order of persons designated in the Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officer’s Certificate or any applicable supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of Securities.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

26



 

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

SECTION 3.2         Currency; Denominations.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

SECTION 3.3         Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, its President, its Treasurer or a Vice President under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Coupons shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be manual or facsimile.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Board Resolution and Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 3.1 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

 

(1)           an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

 

27



 

(a)           the form or forms and terms of such Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b)           all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with and that such Securities and Coupons, when completed by appropriate insertions, executed under the Company’s corporate seal and attested by duly authorized officers of the Company, delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and 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 legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and will entitle the Holders thereof to the benefits of this Indenture, including the Guarantee; such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to the availability of equitable remedies;

 

(c) all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities and Coupons, if any, have been complied with; and

 

(d) this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; and

 

(2)           an Officer’s Certificate and a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate, in each case stating that, to the best knowledge of the Persons executing such certificate, all conditions precedent to the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with, and no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time would become, an Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.  If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate written request by an Authorized Officer of the Company or any person designated in writing by an Authorized Officer that the Trustee authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a certification by the Company and the Guarantor that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with and that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities has occurred or is continuing.

 

28



 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any 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 or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Bearer Security and any Bearer Security in global form shall be dated as of the date specified in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

No Security or Coupon appertaining thereto 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 in Section 2.2 or 6.11 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers. Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 3.6 or 3.7, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all Coupons appertaining thereto then matured have been detached and cancelled.

 

SECTION 3.4         Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 3.3, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, in bearer form with one or more Coupons or without Coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities (accompanied by any unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided, further, that a definitive Bearer Security shall be

 

29



 

delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in or pursuant to this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary global Security, 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.

 

SECTION 3.5         Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

 

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such series. Such Office or Agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for that series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the Trustee shall be the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

 

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of such series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series containing identical terms, denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture and in the same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series, with all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons or matured Coupon or Coupons in default,

 

30



 

such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing Coupon or Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2, interest represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such series located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such Office or Agency for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series and like tenor after the close of business at such Office or Agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such Coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such Coupon shall be returned to the Person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to such series.

 

Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as contemplated by the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any global Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities only if (i) the Depository is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the date the Company is so informed in writing, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities. If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of an event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing

 

31



 

identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the U.S. Depository or such other Depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depository or such other Depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged, which (unless such Securities are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive Securities exchanged for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form in which the Securities are issuable, as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof, but subject to the satisfaction of any certification or other requirements to the issuance of Bearer Securities; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and provided, further, that (unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, or such other Depository or U.S. Depository referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form

 

32



 

satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar for such Security 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, or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee) that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.5 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of like tenor and the same series under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security selected for redemption except, to the extent provided with respect to such Bearer Security, that such Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and the same series, provided that such Registered Security shall be immediately surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with the provisions of this Indenture or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

SECTION 3.6         Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated Coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.6, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

 

If there be delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or Coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee that such Security or Coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains with all appurtenant Coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

33


 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or Coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2, be payable only at an Office or Agency for such Securities located outside the United States and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on Bearer Securities and any Additional Amounts with respect to such interest shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.6, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security, with any Coupons appertaining thereto issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall constitute a separate obligation of the Company and the Guarantor, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and Coupons appertaining thereto or the destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series and any Coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 3.6, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons.

 

SECTION 3.7         Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, and are punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company or the Guarantor, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

34



 

(1)           The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed by the Company in the following manner. The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security, the Special Record Date therefor and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. The Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest 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 notification to the Trustee of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall, in the name and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantor, cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantor, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, at the option of the Company or the Guarantor, interest on Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu

 

35



 

of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

In the case of any Registered Security of any series that is convertible into other securities of the Company or exchangeable for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, which Registered Security is converted or exchanged after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Registered Security with respect to which the Stated Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more predecessor Registered Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Registered Security which is converted or exchanged, interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion or exchange of such Registered Security shall not be payable.

 

SECTION 3.8         Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security or the bearer of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or Coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security or Coupon shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No Holder of any beneficial interest in any global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

36



 

SECTION 3.9         Cancellation.

 

All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Coupons, as well as Securities and Coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Company or the Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company or the Guarantor may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture. All cancelled Securities and Coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

SECTION 3.10       Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in any Security, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 3.11       CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use a “CUSIP”, “CINS”, or “ISIN” number (if then generally in use), and the Company and the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” “CINS”, or “ISIN” number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such “CUSIP” “CINS”, or “ISIN” number either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities; and provided, further, that failure to use “CUSIP” “CINS”, or “ISIN” numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange shall not affect the validity or sufficiency of such notice. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in “CUSIP” “CINS”, or “ISIN” number for the Securities.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

SECTION 4.1         Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order or of the Guarantor by a Guarantor Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order or Guarantor Order and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order or a Guarantor Order, at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1)           either

 

37



 

(a)                                   all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all Coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) Coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities of such series and maturing after such exchange whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 3.5, (ii) Securities and Coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, (iii) Coupons appertaining to Securities of such series called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 11.7, and (iv) Securities and Coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company or the Guarantor and thereafter repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b)                                  all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company and the Guarantor, and the Company or the Guarantor, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be;

 

(2)           the Company or the Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and the Guarantor with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto; and

 

38



 

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

 

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 6.6 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 4.3, 10.2 and 10.3, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Sections 10.4 and 16.2 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.1(1)(b)), and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such Securities into securities of the Company or the Guarantor or another issuer shall survive.

 

SECTION 4.2         Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

 

(1)           Unless pursuant to Section 3.1, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section  4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 4.2 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 4.2(2) or Section 4.2(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 4.2.

 

(2)           Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 4.2(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, respectively, on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company or the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this

 

39



 

Section 4.2 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Guarantee in respect thereof, are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 and as more fully set forth in such clause, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, and any rights of such Holder to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such Securities for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, (ii) the obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Sections 10.4 and 16.2 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) below), and with respect to any rights to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such Securities for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 4.2. The Company may exercise its option under this Section 4.2(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

(3)           Upon the Company’s exercise of the option to have this Section 4.2(3) apply with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company and the Guarantor shall be released from their obligations under Sections 10.5 and 10.6, and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 3.1(19), any other covenant applicable to such Securities, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Guarantee in respect thereof, on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Company and the Guarantor may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1(5) or 5.1(10) or otherwise, as the case may be, but,

 

40



 

except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be unaffected thereby.

 

(4)           The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto and the Guarantee in respect thereof:

 

(a)                                   The Company or the Guarantor shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.7 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.2 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto at the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or premium or interest and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the days on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

41


 

(b)                                  Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Guarantor is a party or by which either of them is bound.

 

(c)                                   No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(d)                                  In the case of an election under clause (2) of this Section 4.2, the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the company or the Guarantor has received from the Internal Revenue Service a letter ruling, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service a Revenue Ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e)                                   In the case of an election under clause (3) of this Section 4.2, the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(f)                                     The Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, after the

 

42



 

123rd day after the date of deposit, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) pursuant to this clause (4) to be held in trust will not be subject to any case or proceeding (whether voluntary or involuntary) in respect of the Company or the Guarantor under any Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor issued in connection therewith.

 

(g)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate and the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance under clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

(h)                                  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.2(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company or the Guarantor in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

(5)           Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 4.2(4)(a) has b een made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 3.1 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

43



 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) shall pay and indemnify the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 4.2(5) and Section 4.3, the “Trustee”) against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 4.2 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request, or the Guarantor upon Guarantor Request, as the case may be, any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 4.2.

 

SECTION 4.3         Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent or the Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 5.1         Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to 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), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such Series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

44



 

(1)           default in the payment of any interest on any Security of such series, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when such interest becomes or such Additional Amounts become 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 such series, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when such principal or premium becomes or such Additional Amounts become due and payable at their Maturity; or

 

(3)           default in the performance, or breach, of the covenants of the Guarantor in Section 8.3 or Section 10.7 of this Indenture and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; PROVIDED that, to the extent that such covenants are not enforceable under the laws of Bermuda, such covenants shall be deemed not made but, nevertheless, (A) the implementation of any consolidation, amalgamation, merger or other transaction described in Section 8.3 that does not meet the conditions set forth in subsections (1), (2) and (3) thereof, or (B) the failure of the Guarantor to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and that of each of its Subsidiaries and their respective rights (charter and statutory) and franchises in the manner that would otherwise have been required by Section 10.7, and in either case (A) or (B) the continuance of any such event for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such event and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall constitute an Event of Default.

 

(4)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series; or

 

(5)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture or the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

45



 

(6)           if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor (including, in each case, an Event of Default under any other series of Securities), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created or incurred, shall happen and shall consist of default in the payment of more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of such Indebtedness at the maturity thereof (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) or shall result in such Indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and such default shall not be cured or such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such event of default and requiring the Company or the Guarantor to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(7)           the Company or the Guarantor shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith; or

 

(8)           the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:

 

(a)                                   a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency) or other similar law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(b)                                  a decree or order adjudging the Company or the Guarantor to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency), arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or the Guarantor and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(c)                                   a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company or the Guarantor of any substantial part of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or

 

46



 

ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or the Guarantor; or

 

(d)                                  the commencement by the Company or the Guarantor of a voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization ( other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency) or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by the Company or the Guarantor of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or relief under any applicable law, or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or any substantial part of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or the making by the Company or the Guarantor of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or the Guarantor in furtherance of any such action;

 

(9)           any Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be, or be asserted in writing by the Guarantor or the Company not to be, in full force and effect, enforceable in accordance with its terms; or

 

(10)         any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 5.2         Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (8) of Section 5.1) occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable.

 

47



 

If an Event of Default specified in clause (8) of Section 5.1 occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the Outstanding Securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series) shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.

 

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the 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 in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

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

 

(a)                                   all overdue installments of any interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to all Securities of such series and any Coupon appertaining thereto,

 

(b)                                  the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,

 

(c)                                   to the extent that payment of such interest or Additional Amounts is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of any interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and

 

(d)                                  all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6; and

 

(2)           all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 5.3         Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each covenants, in each case, that if

 

48



 

(1)           default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at their Maturity, or,

 

(3)           default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series;

 

(4)           the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

If the Company or the Guarantor fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto 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 such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 5.4         Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities of any series or the property of

 

49



 

the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or the Guarantor for the payment of any overdue principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

(1)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of any applicable series, of the principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders of Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(2)           to collect and receive any monies 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 of Securities or any Coupons to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities or any Coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security or any Coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or Coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or any Coupon in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 5.5         Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or Coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or Coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of the Securities or Coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

50


 

SECTION 5.6         Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities or Coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

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

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

SECTION 5.7         Limitations on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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

 

(2)           the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 such indemnity as is reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

51



 

over any other 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 (it being further understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to any such Holder).

 

SECTION 5.8         Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or Coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security or payment of such Coupon, as the case may be, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security or Coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 5.9         Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

SECTION 5.10       Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security or a Coupon is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 5.11       Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or Coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to any Holder of a Security or a

 

52



 

Coupon may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by such Holder, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 5.12       Control by Holders of Securities.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that (subject to Section 6.1 below)

 

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

 

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

 

(3)           such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action.

 

SECTION 5.13       Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

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

 

(1)           in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or any Coupons appertaining thereto, or

 

(2)           in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 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 5.14       Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) 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 and the Guarantor each expressly waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the

 

53



 

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.

 

SECTION 5.15       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 any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.15 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 Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into other securities in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE 6

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 6.1         Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

(1)           the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document reasonably 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 or of the Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order or by a Guarantor Request or Guarantor Order, as the case may be (in each case, other than delivery of any Security, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be;

 

54



 

(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 shall be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or, if such matter pertains to the Guarantor, a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate;

 

(4)           the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection 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 or pursuant to this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as is reasonably satisfactory to it 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, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to 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, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company and the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

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

 

(8)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct;

 

(9)           the Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, and Security Registrar shall have the same protections as the Trustee set forth hereunder;

 

(10)         the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with an Act of the Holders hereunder, and, to the extent not so provided herein, with respect to any act requiring the Trustee to exercise its own discretion, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture or any Securities, unless it shall

 

55



 

be proved that, in connection with any such action taken, suffered or omitted or any such act, the Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct;

 

(11)         in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

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

 

(13)         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

 

SECTION 6.2         Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 7.3(3), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities and Coupons of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(6) 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, 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.

 

SECTION 6.3         Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any Coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or the Coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement

 

56



 

of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 6.4         May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Guarantor or the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities or Coupons and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company or the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

 

SECTION 6.5         Money Held in Trust.

 

Except as provided in Section 4.3 and Section 10.3, money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed to in writing with the Company or the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6.6         Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) each agree:

 

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

 

(2)           except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse 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 or arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder (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 the Trustee’s negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3)           to indemnify the Trustee and its agents, officers, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on their 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 themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantor, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense was due to the Trustee’s negligence or bad faith.

 

57



 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series 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 or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

To the extent permitted by law, any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 5.1 is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 6.6 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 6.6.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 6.7         Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, that is eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000, and that is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

SECTION 6.8         Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(1)           No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 6.9.

 

(2)           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 and the Guarantor. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(3)           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, the Company and the Guarantor.  If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation,

 

58



 

the resigning Trustee may petition at the expense of Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(4)           If at any time:

 

(a)                                   the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantor or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

 

(b)                                  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.7 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantor or any such Holder, or

 

(c)                                   the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Guarantor, by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

(5)           If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Guarantor, by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of such 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 6.9. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, 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

 

59



 

amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company, the Guarantor 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 6.9, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company and the Guarantor. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.9, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(6)           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 by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. 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.

 

(7)           In no event shall any retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

SECTION 6.9         Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

(1)           Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantor and 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 hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantor or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 10.3, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 6.6.

 

(2)           Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee 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

 

60



 

to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, 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, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, 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 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, the Guarantor or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates and subject to Section 10.3 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the 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, subject to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 6.6.

 

(3)           Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(4)           No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

SECTION 6.10       Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any Corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,

 

61



 

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 with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 6.11       Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or partial repayment or pursuant to Section 3.6, 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 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 must be acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, 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, the Company and the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent, the Company and the Guarantor. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor and shall (i) mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the

 

62



 

series are issued as Bearer Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has its principal office if such office is located outside the United States. 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.

 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) each agree to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

The provisions of Sections 3.8, 6.3 and 6.4 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.  If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate by the Company), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

63


 

ARTICLE 7

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 7.1         Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company and the Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1)           semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than May 1 and November 1 of the year or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and

 

(2)           at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company or the Guarantor 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 so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

 

SECTION 7.2         Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

 

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.  Every Holder of Securities or Coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 7.3         Reports by Trustee .

 

(1)           Within 60 days after September 15 of each year commencing with the first September 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such September 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding September 15 and the date of this Indenture.

 

(2)           The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

 

64



 

(3)           Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 7.4         Reports by Company and Guarantor .

 

The Company and the Guarantor, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall each:

 

(1)           (1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(2)           file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3)           transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

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

 

65



 

ARTICLE 8

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES

 

SECTION 8.1         Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

 

The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), and the Company shall not permit any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company; unless:

 

(1)           in case the Company shall consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation 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 as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by the successor Person and the Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)           either the Company or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture are authorized and comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.2         Successor Person Substituted for Company .

 

Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by 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 to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be

 

66



 

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 thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Securities and the Coupons.

 

SECTION 8.3         Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Guarantor shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor), or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor), and the Guarantor shall not permit any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into the Guarantor or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Guarantor; unless:

 

(1)           in case the Guarantor shall consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Bermuda, or any other country which is on the date of this Indenture a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by the successor Person and the Company and delivered to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Guarantor to be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)           either the Guarantor or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture are authorized and comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

67



 

SECTION 8.4         Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor.

 

Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by the Guarantor with or merger of the Guarantor into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Guarantor substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.3, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor 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 Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Guarantor herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Securities and the Coupons.

 

ARTICLE 9

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 9.1         Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders .

 

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or Coupons, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), the Guarantor (when authorized by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)           to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or the Guarantor, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, contained herein and in the Securities, in each case in compliance with the Indenture; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be; or

 

(3)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be exchanged for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto in any material respect; or

 

(4)           to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or

 

68



 

(5)           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 6.9; or

 

(6)           to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding or any Coupons appertaining thereto in any material respect; or

 

(7)           to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or

 

(8)           to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture); or

 

(9)           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 Article 4, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of an Outstanding Security of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto or any other Outstanding Security or Coupon in any material respect; or

 

(10)         to secure the Securities pursuant to Section 10.5 or otherwise; or

 

(11)         to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of Holders of Securities of any series; or

 

(12)         to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or supplement shall materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities then Outstanding.

 

SECTION 9.2         Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Company’s Board Resolution), the Guarantor (when authorized by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s 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 or of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

 

69



 

(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof (or modify the calculation of such principal amount) or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change the obligation of the Company and the Guarantor to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to the terms hereof (except as contemplated by Section 8.1(1) and permitted by Section 9.1(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.4, change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article 13, or change the Place of Payment, Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security 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, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment), 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 reduce the requirements of Section 15.4 for quorum or voting, or

 

(3)           modify or effect in any manner adverse to the Holders the terms and conditions of the obligations of the Guarantor in respect of the due and punctual payments of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any sinking fund requirements or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities or remove the guarantee obligations of the Guarantor, or

 

(4)           modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.8, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or

 

(5)           make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security into or for securities of the Company or the Guarantor or other securities, (whether or not issued by the Company or the Guarantor) cash or property in accordance with its terms.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

70



 

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

 

SECTION 9.3         Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

 

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and an Officer’s Certificate and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been fulfilled. Upon receipt of such opinion and certificates, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture.

 

SECTION 9.4         Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, but only with regard to the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantor and the Holders of any Securities of such series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.

 

SECTION 9.5         Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.6         Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

71



 

SECTION 9.7         Notice of Supplemental Indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.2, the Company shall transmit to the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby a notice setting forth the substance of such supplemental indenture.  Any failure of the Company to mail such notice or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 10.1       Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms thereof, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on any Bearer Security on or before the Maturity thereof, and any Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto for such interest as they severally mature.

 

SECTION 10.2       Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company and the Guarantor shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series (but not Bearer Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company and the Guarantor shall maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an Office or Agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that if the Securities of such series are listed on The Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company and the Guarantor shall maintain a Paying Agent in London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Company and the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of such series and any

 

72



 

Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment at the place specified for the purpose with respect to such Securities as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and the Company and the Guarantor hereby appoint the Trustee as their agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, no payment of principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made at any Office or Agency in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, if amounts owing with respect to any Bearer Securities shall be payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, any premium or interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Office or Agency designated by the Company and the Guarantor in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts at all offices outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

 

The Company and the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor of its obligation to maintain an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company and the Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other Office or Agency. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantor hereby designate as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoint the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Office or Agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purpose. The Company and the Guarantor may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Securities of any series.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one exchange rate agent.

 

SECTION 10.3       Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, or if the Guarantor shall act as Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in

 

73


 

which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall 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 shall, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, 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 shall 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, that such Paying Agent shall:

 

(1)           hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(2)           give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company or the Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(3)           at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent. The Company or the Guarantor 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 or Guarantor Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or the Guarantor, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or any such premium or interest or any such Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request (or if

 

74



 

deposited by the Guarantor, paid to the Guarantor on Guarantor Request), or (if then held by the Company or the Guarantor) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company and the Guarantor 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of Registered Securities of such series, or both, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing nor shall it be later than two years after such principal and any premium or interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 10.4       Additional Amounts.

 

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of the applicable series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to

 

75



 

indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 10.4.

 

SECTION 10.5       Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries.

 

So long as any Securities are Outstanding, neither the Company nor the Guarantor will, nor will it permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance (a “Lien”) upon any shares of Capital Stock of any Designated Subsidiary (whether such shares of stock are now owned or hereafter acquired) without effectively providing concurrently that the Securities (and, if the Company and the Guarantor so elect, any other Indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinate to the Securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the Company is otherwise obligated, to provide such security) shall be secured equally and ratably with such Indebtedness for at least the time period such other Indebtedness is so secured.

 

SECTION 10.6       Limitation on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries.

 

So long as any Securities are outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by this Indenture, neither the Company nor the Guarantor will issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of, securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Capital Stock (other than Preferred Stock having no voting rights of any kind) of any Designated Subsidiary, and will not permit any Designated Subsidiary  to issue (other than to the Company or the Guarantor) any shares (other than the director’s qualifying shares) of, or securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Capital Stock (other than Preferred Stock having no voting rights of any kind) of any Designated Subsidiary, if, after giving effect to any such transaction and the issuance of the maximum number of shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise of all such convertible securities, warrants, rights or options, the Guarantor would own, directly or indirectly, less than 80% of the shares of Capital Stock of such Designated Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock having no voting rights of any kind); provided, however, that (i) any issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition permitted by the Company or the Guarantor may only be made for at least a fair market value consideration as determined by the Board of Directors or the Guarantor’s Board of Directors, as the case may be, pursuant to a Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be, adopted in good faith and (ii) the foregoing shall not prohibit any such issuance or disposition of securities if required by any law or any regulation or order of any governmental or insurance regulatory authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may merge or consolidate any Designated Subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Guarantor, the shares of Capital Stock of which the Guarantor owns at least 80%, and (ii) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may, subject to the provisions of Article 8, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of the entire Capital Stock of any Designated Subsidiary at one time for at least a fair market value consideration as determined by the Board of Directors or

 

76



 

Guarantor’s Board of Directors, as the case may be, pursuant to a Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be, adopted in good faith.

 

SECTION 10.7       Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 8, the Company and the Guarantor shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate existences and that of each of their respective Subsidiaries and their respective rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not obligate the Company or the Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company, the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of such Subsidiary and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to any Holder.

 

SECTION 10.8       Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived 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 Guarantor and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 10.9       Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

 

(1)           The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that (a) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of its performance under this Indenture has been made under his or her supervision, and (b) to the best of his or her knowledge, based on such review, (a) the Company has complied with all the conditions and covenants imposed on it under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to him or her and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

(2)           The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of Section 5.1.

 

77



 

(3)           The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the Company’s compliance with the covenants contained in this Article 10 other than as specifically set forth in this Section 10.9.

 

(4)           For the purpose of this Section 10.9, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.10     Guarantor Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

 

(1)           The Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Guarantor, stating that (a) a review of the activities of the Guarantor during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his or her supervision, and (b) to the best of his or her knowledge, based on such review, (a) the Guarantor has complied with conditions and covenants imposed  on it under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to him or her and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes, or which after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

(2)           The Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to clause (3) or (5) of Section 5.1.

 

(3)           The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the Guarantor’s compliance with the covenants contained in this Article 10 other than as specifically set forth in this Section 10.10.

 

(4)           For the purpose of this Section 10.10, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 11

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 11.1       Applicability of Article.

 

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article.

 

78



 

SECTION 11.2       Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of (a) less than all of the Securities of any series or (b) all of the Securities of any series, with the same issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 11.3       Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into other securities of the Company or exchanged for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

SECTION 11.4       Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for

 

79



 

redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price,

 

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

 

(4)           in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

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

 

(6)           the place or places where such Securities, together (in the case of Bearer Securities) with all Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,

 

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

 

(8)           that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all Coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of any such missing Coupon or Coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any Paying Agent is furnished,

 

(9)           if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and no Registered Securities of such series are to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.5 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made,

 

80



 

(10)         in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible into Common Stock of the Company or exchangeable for other securities, the conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and

 

(11)         the CUSIP number or the Euroclear or the Cedel reference numbers of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depository to identify such Securities).

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 1.6 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

 

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.

 

SECTION 11.5       Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, any Redemption Date, the Company or the Guarantor shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 11.4, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent or the Guarantor is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with respect thereto, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 11.6       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 and the Guarantor shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and the Coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company or the guarantor at the Redemption Price, together with any accrued interest and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Bearer Securities of such series, installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of Coupons for such interest (at an Office or Agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2), and provided, further, that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the

 

81



 

Registered Securities of such series, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

 

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that any interest or Additional Amounts represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such Security located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

SECTION 11.7       Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the guarantor 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 Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Company and the guarantor shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the U.S. Depository or other Depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

 

82


 

ARTICLE 12

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 12.1       Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 12.2       Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company or the Guarantor may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If, as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 12.2, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to satisfy the remaining sinking fund payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request or Guarantor Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company or the Guarantor from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company or the Guarantor having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company or the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 12.3       Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series,

 

83



 

the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officer’s Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 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 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.

 

ARTICLE 13

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

SECTION 13.1       Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 3.9, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.1, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

 

ARTICLE 14

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

 

SECTION 14.1       Applicability of Article.

 

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars

 

84



 

that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company or the Guarantor may specify in a written notice to the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 15

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 15.1       Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 15.2       Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(1)           The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series have been issued in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, in London or in such place outside the United States as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2)           In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), the Guarantor (by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to Section 1.6) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series are to be issued as Bearer Securities, in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section.

 

85



 

SECTION 15.3       Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, any representatives of the Guarantor and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 15.4       Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any reconvened meeting, such reconvened meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such reconvened meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 15.2(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the Coupons appertaining thereto, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

 

86



 

SECTION 15.5       Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(1)           Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 1.4 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.4 or other proof.

 

(2)           The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 15.2(2), in which case the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(3)           At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4)           Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 15.2 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 15.6       Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent

 

87



 

chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 15.2 and, if applicable, Section 15.4. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and the Guarantor, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

ARTICLE 16

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

 

SECTION 16.1       The Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund payments (if any) provided for pursuant to the terms of such Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, (ii) the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on each such Security, if any, to the extent lawful, and (iii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations (including obligations to the Trustee) of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities in accordance with the terms of such Security and of this Indenture. In case of the failure of the Company punctually to pay any such principal, premium, interest, Additional Amounts or sinking fund payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

 

SECTION 16.2       Net Payments.

 

All payments of principal of and premium, if any, interest and any other amounts on, or in respect of, the Securities of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto shall be made by the Guarantor without withholding or deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Bermuda (each, a “taxing jurisdiction”) or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, unless such taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required to be withheld or deducted by (i) the laws (or any regulations or ruling promulgated thereunder) of a taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or

 

88



 

therein or (ii) an official position regarding the application, administration, interpretation or enforcement of any such laws, regulations or rulings (including, without limitation, a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a taxing authority in a taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof). If a withholding or deduction at source is required, the Guarantor shall, subject to certain limitations and exceptions set forth below, pay to the Holder of any such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto such Additional Amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount made to such Holder, after such withholding or deduction, shall not be less than the amount provided for in such Security, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make payment of such Additional Amounts for or on account of:

 

(1)           any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge of whatever nature which would not have been imposed but for the fact that such Holder: (A) was a resident, domiciliary or national of, or engaged in business or maintained a permanent establishment or was physically present in, the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof or otherwise had some connection with the relevant taxing jurisdiction other than by reason of the mere ownership of, or receipt of payment under, such Security; (B) presented such Security for payment in the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof, unless such Security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere; or (C) presented such Security more than thirty (30) days after the date on which the payment in respect of such Security first became due and payable or provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts if it had presented such Security for payment on any day within such period of thirty (30) days;

 

(2)           any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(3)           any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of such Security to comply with any reasonable request by the Guarantor addressed to the Holder within 90 days of such request (A) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (B) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (A) or (B), is required or imposed by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or

 

(4)           any combination of items (1), (2) and (3);

 

nor shall Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, interest or any other amounts on, any such Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such Security to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the relevant taxing jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or relevant taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax

 

89



 

purposes of a beneficiary or partner or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had it been the Holder of the Security.

 

Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium, interest or any other amounts on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding the payment of Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of the applicable series, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to a series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate, the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, interest or any other amounts on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto without withholding for or on account of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or other governmental charge described in this Section 16.2. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate shall specify by taxing jurisdiction the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Guarantor agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section 16.2. The Guarantor covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 16.2.

 

SECTION 16.3       Guarantee Unconditional, etc.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as principal and not merely as surety, and shall be absolute, full, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of any Security or this Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of any Security or this Indenture, or any waiver, modification, consent or indulgence granted with respect thereto by the Holder of such Security or the Trustee, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any action to enforce the same, or any other circumstances which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.  The Guarantor further agrees that the Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance and not merely of collection.  The Guarantor hereby

 

90



 

waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any such Security or the Indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts and sinking fund payments required with respect to, the Securities and the complete performance of all other obligations contained in the Securities. The Guarantor further agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, the Maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 5.2 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or prohibition extant under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of any jurisdiction preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

SECTION 16.4       Reinstatement.

 

This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment on any Security, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored to the Company or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.  If any Holder of any Security of the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company or the Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator, receiver, sequestrator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantor any amount paid by any of them to the Trustee or such Holder in respect of a Security, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 16.5       Subrogation.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of any Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts and sinking fund payments required with respect to, all Securities shall have been paid in full.

 

SECTION 16.6       Indemnity.

 

As a separate and alternative stipulation, the Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that any sum expressed to be payable by the Company under this Indenture, the Securities or the Coupons but which is for any reason (whether or not now known or becoming known to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder of any Security or Coupon) not recoverable from the Guarantor on the basis of a guarantee will nevertheless be recoverable from it as if it were the sole principal debtor and will be paid by it to the Trustee on demand. This indemnity constitutes a separate and independent obligation from the other obligations in this Indenture, gives rise to a separate and independent cause of action and will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Trustee or any Holder of any Security or Coupon.

 

91



 

SECTION 16.7       Payment of Fees .  The Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities in enforcing any of their respective rights under the Guarantee.

 

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

 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 




Exhibit 4.14

 

 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.,

 

Issuer

 

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.,

 

Guarantor

 

To

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated as of [ · ]

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

 



 

Reconciliation and tie between

Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and Indenture

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

 

Indenture Section

§§310(a)(1)

 

6.8

(a)(2)

 

6.8

(b)

 

6.9

§§312(a)

 

7.1

(b)

 

7.2

(c)

 

7.2

§§313(a)

 

7.3

(b)(2)

 

7.3

(c)

 

7.3

(d)

 

7.3

§§314(a)

 

7.4

(c)(1)

 

1.2

(c)(2)

 

1.2

(e)

 

1.2

(f)

 

1.2

§§316(a) (last sentence)

 

1.1

(a)(1)(A)

 

5.2, 5.12

(a)(1)(B)

 

5.13

(b)

 

5.8

§§317(a)(1)

 

5.3

(a)(2)

 

5.4

(b)

 

10.3

§§318(a)

 

10.8

 

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

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

14

Section 1.3

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

14

Section 1.4

Acts of Holders

15

Section 1.5

Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor

17

Section 1.6

Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver

17

Section 1.7

Language of Notices

18

Section 1.8

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

19

Section 1.9

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

19

Section 1.10

Successors and Assigns

19

Section 1.11

Separability Clause

19

Section 1.12

Holders of Preferred Securities as Third Party Beneficiaries

19

Section 1.13

Benefits of Indenture

19

Section 1.14

Governing Law

19

Section 1.15

Legal Holidays

20

Section 1.16

Counterparts

20

Section 1.17

Judgment Currency

20

Section 1.18

No Security Interest Created

21

Section 1.19

Limitation on Individual Liability

21

Section 1.20

Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2

SECURITIES FORMS

22

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Forms Generally

22

Section 2.2

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

23

Section 2.3

Securities in Global Form

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

THE SECURITIES

24

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

24

Section 3.2

Currency; Denominations

28

Section 3.3

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

28

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 3.4

Temporary Securities

30

Section 3.5

Registration, Transfer and Exchange

31

Section 3.6

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

34

Section 3.7

Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved

35

Section 3.8

Persons Deemed Owners

37

Section 3.9

Cancellation

38

Section 3.10

Computation of Interest

38

Section 3.11

Extension of Interest Payment Period

38

Section 3.12

Right of Set-Off

39

Section 3.13

Agreed Tax Treatment

39

Section 3.14

Extension of Stated Maturity; Adjustment of Stated Maturity Upon an Exchange

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

40

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Satisfaction and Discharge

40

Section 4.2

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

41

Section 4.3

Application of Trust Money

45

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

46

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Events of Default

46

Section 5.2

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

48

Section 5.3

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

49

Section 5.4

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

50

Section 5.5

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons

51

Section 5.6

Application of Money Collected

51

Section 5.7

Limitations on Suits

52

Section 5.8

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

52

Section 5.9

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

53

Section 5.10

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

53

Section 5.11

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

53

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 5.12

Control by Holders of Securities

54

Section 5.13

Waiver of Past Defaults

54

Section 5.14

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

54

Section 5.15

Undertaking for Costs

55

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

THE TRUSTEE

55

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

55

Section 6.2

Certain Rights of Trustee

56

Section 6.3

Notice of Defaults

58

Section 6.4

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

59

Section 6.5

May Hold Securities

59

Section 6.6

Money Held in Trust

59

Section 6.7

Compensation and Reimbursement

59

Section 6.8

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

60

Section 6.9

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

60

Section 6.10

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

62

Section 6.11

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

63

Section 6.12

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

64

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY

65

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

65

Section 7.2

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

66

Section 7.3

Reports by Trustee

66

Section 7.4

Reports by Company and Guarantor

66

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES

67

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

67

Section 8.2

Successor Person Substituted for Company

68

Section 8.3

Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

69

Section 8.4

Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor

69

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

70

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

70

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 9.2

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

71

Section 9.3

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

73

Section 9.4

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

73

Section 9.5

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

74

Section 9.6

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

74

Section 9.7

Effect on Senior Indebtedness

74

Section 9.8

Notice of Supplemental Indenture

74

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10

COVENANTS

74

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

74

Section 10.2

Maintenance of Office or Agency

75

Section 10.3

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

76

Section 10.4

Additional Amounts

77

Section 10.5

Corporate Existence

78

Section 10.6

Waiver of Certain Covenants

78

Section 10.7

Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults

79

Section 10.8

Guarantor Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults

79

Section 10.9

Additional Sums

80

Section 10.10

Prohibition Against Dividends, etc.

80

Section 10.11

Payment of Expenses of each Assured Guaranty Trust

81

Section 10.12

Ownership of Common Securities

81

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

82

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Applicability of Article

82

Section 11.2

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

82

Section 11.3

Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

82

Section 11.4

Notice of Redemption

83

Section 11.5

Deposit of Redemption Price

84

Section 11.6

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

84

Section 11.7

Securities Redeemed in Part

85

 

iv



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 11.8

Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust

85

 

 

 

ARTICLE 12

SINKING FUNDS

86

 

 

 

Section 12.1

Applicability of Article

86

Section 12.2

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

86

Section 12.3

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE 13

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

87

 

 

 

Section 13.1

Applicability of Article

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE 14

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

88

 

 

 

Section 14.1

Applicability of Article

88

 

 

 

ARTICLE 15

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

88

 

 

 

Section 15.1

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

88

Section 15.2

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

88

Section 15.3

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

89

Section 15.4

Quorum; Action

89

Section 15.5

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

90

Section 15.6

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

90

 

 

 

ARTICLE 16

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

91

 

 

 

Section 16.1

Agreement to Subordinate

91

Section 16.2

Default on Company Senior Indebtedness

91

Section 16.3

Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy

92

Section 16.4

Subrogation

93

Section 16.5

Trustee to Effectuate Subordination

94

Section 16.6

Notice by the Company

94

Section 16.7

Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Company Senior Indebtedness

95

Section 16.8

Subordination May Not Be Impaired

96

 

 

 

ARTICLE 17

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

96

 

 

 

Section 17.1

The Guarantee

96

Section 17.2

Net Payments

97

 

v



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 17.3

Guarantee Unconditional, etc.

99

Section 17.4

Reinstatement

99

Section 17.5

Subrogation

99

Section 17.6

Indemnity

99

 

 

 

ARTICLE 18

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEE

100

 

 

 

Section 18.1

Agreement to Subordinate Guarantee

100

Section 18.2

Default on Guarantor Senior Indebtedness

100

Section 18.3

Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy

101

Section 18.4

Subrogation

102

Section 18.5

Trustee to Effectuate Subordination

103

Section 18.6

Notice by the Guarantor

103

Section 18.7

Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness

104

Section 18.8

Subordination May Not Be Impaired

105

 

vi


 

INDENTURE, dated as of [ · ] (the “Indenture”), among ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, ASSURED GUARANTY LTD., a company duly organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda (hereinafter called the “Guarantor”), having its principal executive office at 30 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, having its Corporate Trust Office located at 101 Barclay Street, 8W, New York, New York 10286, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), including, without limitation, Securities issued to evidence loans made to the Company of the proceeds from the issuance from time to time by one or more Assured Guaranty Trusts (as defined herein) of preferred beneficial interests in the assets of such Trusts (the “Preferred Securities”) and common beneficial interests in the assets of such Trusts (the “Common Securities” and, collectively with the Preferred Securities, the “Trust Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

 

For value received, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

For value received, the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Guarantee and the indemnity provided for herein. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

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

 



 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.1                               Definitions.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

 

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

 

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

 

(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 terms “generally accepted accounting principles” or “GAAP” 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 or time of such computation;

 

(4)  the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” 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;

 

(5)  the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not “either A or B but not both”). Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles; and

 

(6)  references herein to Sections or Articles are references to sections or articles of this Indenture.

 

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company or the Guarantor in respect of certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

“Additional Interest” means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.

 

“Additional Sums” has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.

 

2



 

“Additional Taxes” means the sum of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which an Assured Guaranty Trust has become subject from time to time as a result of a Tax Event.

 

“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; provided, however, that an Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall not be deemed to include any Assured Guaranty Trust to which Securities and the Guarantee in respect thereof have been issued. 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 the meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Assured Guaranty Trusts” means, collectively, each statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other similar trust created to issue Trust Securities and to use the proceeds from the sale thereof to purchase Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not published on days that are Legal Holidays in the place of publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

 

“Authorized Officer” means, when used with respect to the Company, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company.

 

“Bearer Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 2.1 which is payable to bearer.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company hereunder.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

 

3



 

“Business Day,” with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means an obligation under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with such principles.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“Common Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

“Common Stock” in respect of any Corporation means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which has no preference as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, and which is not subject to redemption by such Corporation.

 

“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, and any other obligor upon the Securities.

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Company Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Securities of any particular series, all Indebtedness of the Company outstanding at any time, except (a) the Securities of such series, (b) Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that such Indebtedness is subordinated to or pari passu with the Securities of such series, (c) Indebtedness of the Company to an Affiliate of the Company, (d) interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding relating to the Company referred to in Section 5.1(7) and 5.1(8) unless such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the Company in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws, (e) trade accounts payable and (f) any Indebtedness, including all other debt securities and guaranties in respect of those debt securities, initially issued to (x) any Assured Guaranty Trust or (y) any trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor which is a financing vehicle of the Guarantor or any Affiliate

 

4



 

of the Guarantor in connection with the issuance by such entity of Preferred Securities or other securities which are similar to Preferred Securities that are guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Preferred Securities Guarantees.

 

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (ii) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

 

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

 

“Corporation” includes corporations and limited liability companies and, except for purposes of Article 8, associations, companies and business trusts.

 

“Coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

 

“Currency,” with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

 

“CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, CUSIP Service Bureau.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

“Direct Action” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

 

“Distributions,” with respect to any Assured Guaranty Trust, has the meaning specified in the applicable Trust Agreement of such Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

“Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

 

“Extension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

 

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the

 

5



 

United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

 

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Guarantee” means the unconditional guarantee of the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities by the Guarantor, as more fully set forth in Article 17.

 

“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities of an Assured Guaranty Trust, substantially in such form as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Guarantor” means the Person named as the “Guarantor” 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 “Guarantor” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Guarantor’s Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Guarantor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Guarantor hereunder.

 

“Guarantor’s Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor to have been duly adopted by the Guarantor’s Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Investment Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the General Counsel or the Secretary of

 

6



 

the Guarantor, that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trustee Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Guarantor Request” and “Guarantor Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Guarantor by the Chairman of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Investment Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the General Counsel or the Secretary of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Guarantor Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Securities of any particular series, all Indebtedness of the Guarantor outstanding at any time, except (a) the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee in respect of the Securities of such series, (b) Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that such Indebtedness is subordinated to or pari passu with the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee in respect of the Securities of such series, (c) Indebtedness of the Guarantor to an Affiliate of the Guarantor, (d) interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding relating to the Guarantor referred to in Section 5.1(7) and 5.1(8) unless such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the Guarantor in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws, (e) trade accounts payable, (f) the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee in respect of the securities of any series initially issued to (x) any Assured Guaranty Trust or (y) any trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor which is a financing vehicle of the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor in connection with the issuance by such entity of Preferred Securities or other securities which are similar to Preferred Securities that are guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Preferred Securities Guarantees. and (g) all Preferred Securities Guarantees and all guarantees similar to the Preferred Securities Guarantees issued by the Guarantor on behalf of holders of Preferred Securities of an Assured Guaranty Trust or other securities similar to Preferred Securities issued by any trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor which is a financing vehicle of the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.

 

“Holder,” in the case of any Registered Security, means the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of any Bearer Security, means the bearer thereof and, in the case of any Coupon, means the bearer thereof.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable; (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business

 

7



 

Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit); (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and (vii) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (i) through (vi) above.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security and any Coupon appertaining thereto established pursuant to Section 3.1 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof).

 

“Independent Public Accountants” means accountants or a firm of accountants that, with respect to the Company, the Guarantor and any other obligor under the Securities or the Coupons, are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the independent public accountants regularly retained by the Company or the Guarantor or who may be other independent public accountants. Such accountants or firm shall be entitled to rely upon any Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to this Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.

 

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

“Interest”, with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.4 or 17.2, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

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

 

“Investment Company Event” means, in respect of an Assured Guaranty Trust, the receipt by such Assured Guaranty Trust of an Opinion of Counsel, rendered by an independent law firm experienced in such matters, to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a “Change in 1940 Act Law”), such Assured Guaranty Trust is or will be considered an investment company that is required to be registered under the 1940 Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

8



 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance.

 

“Maturity”, with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or repurchase, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise, and includes the Redemption Date.

 

“New York Banking Day” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

“Office” or “Agency,” with respect to any Securities, means an office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or any other office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 10.2 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture which provides for declaration of an amount less than the principal face amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

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

 

(1)  any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation;

 

(2)  any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 4.2) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or the Guarantor) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company or the Guarantor (if the Company shall act as its own, or authorize the Guarantor to act as, Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if

 

9



 

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)  any such Security with respect to which the Company or the Guarantor has effected defeasance pursuant to the terms hereof, except to the extent provided in Section 4.2;

 

(4)  any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company; and

 

(5)  any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into securities of the Company or the Guarantor or another issuer, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 3.1; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto or an Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor.

 

10



 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security or any Coupon on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment,” with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

 

“Preferred Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

“Preferred Securities Guarantee” means the guarantee by Assured Guaranty Ltd., in its capacity as guarantor with respect to the Preferred Securities of an Assured Guaranty Trust, of distributions on such Preferred Securities to the extent provided in the Guarantee Agreement.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or any Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

“Preferred Stock” in respect of any Corporation means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Corporation.

 

“Property Trustee,” with respect to any Assured Guaranty Trust, means the entity acting in the capacity of Property Trustee pursuant to the related Trust Agreement.

 

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

 

“Redemption Price,” with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 2.1 which is registered in a Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the “Regular Record Date”.

 

11


 

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

 

“Responsible Officer” means any officer assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, for the purposes of Section 6.1(8) and the first proviso of Section 6.2, any other officer to whom a particular corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of Indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

 

“Senior Indebtedness,” with respect to the Securities of any particular series, means, collectively, Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

“Special Event” means an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Registered Security means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7.

 

“Stated Maturity,” with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means, in respect of any Person, any Corporation, limited or general partnership or other business entity of which at the time of determination more than 50% of the voting power of the shares of its Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

“Tax Event” means, in respect of an Assured Guaranty Trust, the receipt by such Assured Guaranty Trust or the Company of an Opinion of Counsel, rendered by an independent law firm experienced in such matters, to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is

 

12



 

announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Assured Guaranty Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes or (iii) such Assured Guaranty Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

“Trust Agreement” means the Trust Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, as amended by an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement substantially in such form as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

 

“Trust Securities,” with respect to any Assured Guaranty Trust, means, collectively, the Common Securities and Preferred Securities issued by such Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

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

 

“United States,” except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

“United States Alien,” except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

“U.S. Depository” or “Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as U.S. Depository or Depository by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, which Person must be, to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, if so provided with respect to any Security, any

 

13



 

successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Depository” or “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

 

“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”.

 

Section 1.2                               Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate or a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1.3                               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 as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

14



 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or the Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, provided that such officer, after reasonable inquiry, has no reason to believe and does not believe that the Opinion of Counsel with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based is erroneous. Any such 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, provided that such counsel, after reasonable inquiry, has no reason to believe and does not believe 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 or any Security, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 1.4                               Acts of Holders.

 

(1)  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders or by holders of Preferred Securities may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders or holders of Preferred Securities, as applicable, in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 15, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantor or both of them. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders or holders of Preferred Securities signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor and any agent of the Trustee, the Company or the Guarantor, if made in the manner provided in this Section.  The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.6.

 

Without limiting the generality of this Section 1.4, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act

 

15



 

provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such U.S. Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

The Company shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any permanent global Security held by a U.S. Depository entitled under the procedures of such U.S. Depository to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

 

(2)  The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing referred to in this Section 1.4 may be proved in any reasonable manner; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

 

(3)  The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(4)  The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory.  The Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (i) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (ii) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (iii) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (iv) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee deem sufficient.

 

16



 

(5)  If the Company or the Guarantor shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution or Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(6)  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by 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 or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, the Guarantor or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

 

Section 1.5                               Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor.

 

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

 

(1)  the Trustee by any Holder, the Guarantor or 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, or

 

(2)  Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, by the Trustee or 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, with a copy to the attention of its General Counsel, at the address of its 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.6                               Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

 

17



 

(1)  such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; and

 

(2)  such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if such Securities are then listed on any stock exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city as the Company shall advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date and the second such publication not later than the latest date prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the 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.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearers Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

 

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 of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

Section 1.7                               Language of Notices.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

18



 

Section 1.8                               Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed hereon by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.

 

Section 1.9                               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 1.10                         Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

Section 1.11                         Separability Clause.

 

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

 

Section 1.12                         Holders of Preferred Securities as Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

The Company and the Guarantor hereby acknowledge that, to the extent specifically set forth herein, the holders of the Preferred Securities of an Assured Guaranty Trust shall expressly be third party beneficiaries of this Indenture. The Company and the Guarantor further acknowledge that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and is attributable to the failure of the Company and the Guarantor to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series held by such Assured Guaranty Trust, any holder of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust may institute a Direct Action against the Company or the Guarantor.

 

Section 1.13                         Benefits of Indenture.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein with respect to holders of Preferred Securities, nothing in this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities or Coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 1.14                         Governing Law.

 

This Indenture, the Securities and any Coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state.

 

19



 

Section 1.15                         Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange Securities of a series that are convertible or exchangeable, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon other than a provision in any Security or Coupon that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof) payment need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, and such Securities need not be converted or exchanged on such date, but such payment may be made, and such Securities may be converted or exchanged, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day at such Place of Payment, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be, to such next succeeding Business Day, except that if such next succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment may be made, and such Securities may be converted or exchanged, on the immediately preceding Business Day (in the case of each of the foregoing, with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date or at such Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be).

 

Section 1.16                         Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 1.17                         Judgment Currency.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the requisite amount of the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

 

20



 

Section 1.18                         No Security Interest Created.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect in any jurisdiction where property of the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Subsidiaries is or may be located.

 

Section 1.19                         Limitation on Individual Liability.

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder (except in a shareholder’s corporate capacity as Guarantor), officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, either directly or through the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, shareholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 Security or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, 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, shareholder, officer or director, 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 Security 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 issuance of such Security.

 

Section 1.20                         Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each agrees that any judicial proceedings instituted in relation to any matter arising under this Indenture, the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be brought in any United States Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York to the extent that such court has subject matter jurisdiction over the controversy, and, by execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantor each hereby irrevocably accepts, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts, acknowledges their competence and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered in such proceeding. The Company and the Guarantor each also irrevocably and unconditionally waives for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and Coupons any immunity from jurisdiction and any immunity from legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in the aid of execution, execution or otherwise) in respect of this Indenture. The Company and the Guarantor each hereby irrevocably designates and appoints for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and Coupons for the term of this Indenture Assured Guaranty Corp., 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, as its agent to receive on its behalf service of all process (with a copy of all such service of process to be delivered to James M. Michener, General

 

21



 

Counsel and Secretary, 30 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda) brought against it with respect to any such proceeding in any such court in The City of New York, such service being hereby acknowledged by each of the Company and the Guarantor to be effective and binding service on it in every respect whether or not the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall then be doing or shall have at any time done business in New York. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Securities or Coupons or the respective obligations of the Company and the Guarantor hereunder remain outstanding, or until the appointment of a successor by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and such successor’s acceptance of such appointment. Upon such acceptance, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of such successor. The Company and the Guarantor each further agrees for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and the Coupons to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of said Assured Guaranty Corp., Inc. in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities or Coupons or the respective obligations of the Company and the Guarantor hereunder shall be outstanding. The Trustee shall not be obligated and shall have no responsibility with respect to any failure by the Company or the Guarantor to take any such action. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by any law or limit the right of the Trustee or any Holder to institute proceedings against the Company or the Guarantor in the courts of any other jurisdiction or jurisdictions.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION RELATING TO THE TRUSTEE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

Section 2.1                               Forms Generally.

 

Each Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon and temporary or permanent global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Security or Coupon as evidenced by their execution of such Security or Coupon.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons and shall not be issuable upon the exercise of warrants.

 

22


 

Definitive Securities and definitive Coupons shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities or Coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or Coupons.

 

Section 2.2                               Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

Subject to Section 6.11, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

Section 2.3                               Securities in Global Form.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall not be issuable in temporary or permanent global form. If Securities of a series shall be issuable in global form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver, in each case at the Company’s expense, any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the

 

23



 

Guarantor or the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.1                               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. The Securities of each series shall be subordinated in right of payment to all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series as provided in Article 16. The Securities of each series shall be guaranteed by the Guarantor, which Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series as provided in Article 18.

 

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,

 

(1)  the title of such Securities and the series in which such Securities shall be included;

 

(2)  any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such title or the Securities of such 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 such series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.5 or 11.7, upon repayment in part of any Registered Security of such series pursuant to Article 13, upon surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion into other securities of the Company or exchange for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer pursuant to its terms, or pursuant to or as contemplated by the terms of such Securities);

 

(3)  if such Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities, as Bearer Securities or alternatively as Bearer Securities and Registered Securities, and whether the Bearer Securities are to be issuable with Coupons, without Coupons or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the Bearer Securities and the terms, if any, upon which Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa;

 

(4)  if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner

 

24



 

specified in Section 3.5, and (iii) the name of the Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, with respect to any such global Security;

 

(5)  if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities or in global form, the date as of which any such Bearer Security or global Security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be issued);

 

(6)  if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary Bearer Security in global form payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the exchange, if any, of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)  the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal of such Securities is payable;

 

(8)  the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the rate or rates and the extent to which Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of such Securities, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, the right, pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof or as otherwise set forth therein, of the Company to defer or extend an interest payment period and the duration of any such Extension Period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(9)  if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a global Security on an Interest Payment Date, will be paid and the manner in which any principal of or premium, if any, on any global Security will be paid;

 

25



 

(10)  whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

(11)  whether the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;

 

(12)  the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Bearer Securities shall be issuable if other than the denomination of $5,000;

 

(13)  whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into other securities of the Company and/or exchangeable for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

 

(14)  if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

(15)  if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;

 

(16)  if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in Dollars or in a Foreign Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

 

26



 

(17)  whether the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or methods (which index, formula or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity securities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

 

(18)  the relative degree, if any, to which Securities of such series and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be senior to or be subordinated to other series of Securities and the Guarantee in respect thereof or other Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, in right of payment, whether such other series of Securities or other Indebtedness is outstanding or not;

 

(19)  any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any of such Securities, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(20)  whether either or both of Section 4.2(2) relating to defeasance or Section 4.2(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series, or any covenants in addition to those specified in Section 4.2(3) relating to the Securities of such series which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article 4 in respect of the Securities of such series;

 

(21)  the form or forms of the Trust Agreement (if different from the form attached hereto as Annex A), Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and Guarantee Agreement;

 

(22)  whether any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

(23)  if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(24)  if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities; and

 

(25)  any other terms of such Securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.

 

All Securities of any one series and all Coupons, if any, appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder,

 

27



 

denomination and the rate of interest thereon, or method of determining the rate of interest, if any, Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution and set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon written order of persons designated in the Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officer’s Certificate or any applicable supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of Securities.

 

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

Section 3.2                               Currency; Denominations.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture .

 

Section 3.3                               Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, its President, its Treasurer or a Vice President and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Coupons shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be manual or facsimile.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Board Resolution and Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities

 

28



 

referred to in Section 3.1 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

 

(1)  an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

 

(a)                                   the form or forms and terms of such Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b)                                  all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with and that such Securities and Coupons, when completed by appropriate insertions and attested by duly authorized officers of the Company, delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and 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 legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and will entitle the Holders thereof to the benefits of this Indenture, including the Guarantee; such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to the availability of equitable remedies;

 

(c)                                   all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities and Coupons, if any, have been complied with; and

 

(d)                                  this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

and

 

(2)  an Officer’s Certificate and a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate, in each case stating that, to the best knowledge of the Persons executing such certificate, all conditions precedent to the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with, and no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time would become, an Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security

 

29



 

of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate written request by an Authorized Officer of the Company or any person designated in writing by an Authorized Officer that the Trustee authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a certification by the Company and the Guarantor that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with and that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities has occurred or is continuing.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any 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 or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Bearer Security and any Bearer Security in global form shall be dated as of the date specified in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

No Security or Coupon appertaining thereto 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 in Section 2.2 or 6.11 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories.  Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 3.6 or 3.7, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all Coupons appertaining thereto then matured have been detached and cancelled.

 

Section 3.4                               Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 3.3, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, in bearer form with one or more Coupons or without Coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or

 

30



 

more temporary Securities (accompanied by any unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided, further, that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in or pursuant to this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary global Security, 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.

 

Section 3.5                               Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

 

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such series. Such Office or Agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for that series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the Trustee shall be the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

 

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of such series may be exchanged for Registered

 

31



 

Securities of such series containing identical terms, denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture and in the same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series, with all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons or matured Coupon or Coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing Coupon or Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2, interest represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such series located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such Office or Agency for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series and like tenor after the close of business at such Office or Agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such Coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such Coupon shall be returned to the Person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to such series.

 

Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as contemplated by the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any global Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities only if (i) the Depository is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the date the Company is so informed in writing, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities. If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of an

 

32



 

event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the U.S. Depository or such other Depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depository or such other Depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged, which (unless such Securities are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive Securities exchanged for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form in which the Securities are issuable, as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof, but subject to the satisfaction of any certification or other requirements to the issuance of Bearer Securities; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and provided, further, that (unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, or such other Depository or U.S. Depository referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

33


 

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar for such Security 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, or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee) that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.5 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of like tenor and the same series under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security selected for redemption except, to the extent provided with respect to such Bearer Security, that such Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and the same series, provided that such Registered Security shall be immediately surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with the provisions of this Indenture or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

Section 3.6                               Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated Coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.6, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

 

If there be delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or Coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee that such Security or Coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains with all appurtenant Coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto

 

34



 

corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or Coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2, be payable only at an Office or Agency for such Securities located outside the United States and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on Bearer Securities and any Additional Amounts with respect to such interest shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.6, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security, with any Coupons appertaining thereto issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall constitute a separate obligation of the Company and the Guarantor, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and Coupons appertaining thereto or the destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series and any Coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 3.6, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons.

 

Section 3.7                               Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, and are punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company or the Guarantor, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

35



 

(1)  The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed by the Company in the following manner. The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security, the Special Record Date therefor and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. The Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest 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 notification to the Trustee of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall, in the name and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantor, cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company or the Guarantor, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, at the option of the Company or the Guarantor, interest on Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any

 

36



 

other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

In the case of any Registered Security of any series that is convertible into other securities of the Company or exchangeable for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, which Registered Security is converted or exchanged after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Registered Security with respect to which the Stated Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more predecessor Registered Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Registered Security which is converted or exchanged, interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion or exchange of such Registered Security shall not be payable.

 

Section 3.8                               Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security or the bearer of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or Coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security or Coupon shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No Holder of any beneficial interest in any global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

37



 

Section 3.9                               Cancellation.

 

All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Coupons, as well as Securities and Coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Company or the Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company or the Guarantor may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture. All cancelled Securities and Coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary procedures, unless by a Company Order or Guarantor Order the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, directs their return to it.

 

Section 3.10                         Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in any Security, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 3.11                         Extension of Interest Payment Period.

 

If specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of a particular series and subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any, so specified, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of such series, to defer the payment of interest on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 (each, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Periods the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date. No Extension Period shall end on a day other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities (together with Additional Interest thereon, if any, at the rate specified for the Securities of such series to the extent permitted by applicable law). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the interest payment period, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the period or periods specified in such Securities or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of such Securities. Upon termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof.

 

The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of such series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the Interest Payment Date or, with respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust are payable or (ii) the date the trustees of such Assured Guaranty Trust are required to give notice to any securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such

 

38



 

Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date.

 

The Company shall promptly give notice of the Company’s election to begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Section 3.12                         Right of Set-Off.

 

With respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall each have the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder in respect of any such Security to the extent the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the Preferred Securities Guarantee relating to such Security or under Section 5.8 hereof, as applicable.

 

Section 3.13                         Agreed Tax Treatment.

 

Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company, the Guarantor and, by its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such Security constitute indebtedness.

 

Section 3.14                         Extension of Stated Maturity; Adjustment of Stated Maturity Upon an Exchange.

 

If specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Company shall have the right to (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series upon the liquidation of the applicable Assured Guaranty Trust and the exchange of such Securities for the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust, or (b) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series; provided that, at the time any election to extend such Stated Maturity is made and at the time of such extension, (i) neither the Company nor the Guarantor is in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (ii) neither the Company nor the Guarantor is in default in the payment of any interest or principal or Additional Amounts on the Securities of such series or under the Guarantee in respect thereof, as the case may be, and no deferred interest payments thereon have accrued, (iii) the applicable Assured Guaranty Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on its Preferred Securities and no deferred Distributions thereon have accumulated, (iv) the Securities of such series are rated not less than BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization and (v) the extended Stated Maturity is no later than the 49th anniversary of the initial issuance of the Preferred Securities of the applicable Assured Guaranty Trust; provided, further, that, if the Company exercises its right to liquidate the applicable Assured Guaranty Trust and exchange the Securities of such series for the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust as specified in clause (a) above, any changed Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series shall be no earlier than the date that is five years after the initial issue date of the Preferred Securities and no later than the date 30 years (plus an

 

39



 

extended term of up to an additional 19 years if the above-referenced conditions are satisfied) after the initial issue date of the Preferred Securities of the applicable Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 4.1                               Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order or of the Guarantor by a Guarantor Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order or Guarantor Order and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order or a Guarantor Order, at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1) either

 

(1)  all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all Coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) Coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities of such series and maturing after such exchange whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 3.5, (ii) Securities and Coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, (iii) Coupons appertaining to Securities of such series called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 11.7, and (iv) Securities and Coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company or the Guarantor and thereafter repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

or

 

(2)  all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company and the Guarantor, and the Company or the Guarantor, 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 the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities and any Coupons

 

40



 

appertaining thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be;

 

(3)  the Company or the Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and the Guarantor with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto; and

 

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

 

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 6.6 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 4.3, 10.2 and 10.3, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Sections 10.4 and 17.2 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.1(1)(b)), and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such Securities into securities of the Company or the Guarantor or another issuer shall survive.

 

Section 4.2                               Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

 

(1)  Unless pursuant to Section 3.1, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 4.2 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 4.2(2) or Section 4.2(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 4.2.

 

(2)  Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 4.2(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such

 

41



 

Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, respectively, on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company or the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 4.2 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Guarantee in respect thereof, are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 and as more fully set forth in such clause, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, and any rights of such Holder to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such Securities for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, (ii) the obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Sections 10.4 and 17.2 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) below), and with respect to any rights to convert such Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such Securities for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 4.2. The Company may exercise its option under this Section 4.2(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

(3)  Upon the Company’s exercise of the option to have this Section 4.2(3) apply with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company and the Guarantor shall be released from their obligations under any covenant applicable to such Securities specified pursuant to Section 3.1(20), with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Guarantee in respect thereof, on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Company and the Guarantor may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other

 

42



 

covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(9) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be unaffected thereby.

 

(4)  The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto and the Guarantee in respect thereof:

 

(5)  The Company or the Guarantor shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.7 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.2 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto at the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or premium or interest and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the days on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

(6)  Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Guarantor is a party or by which either of them is bound.

 

(7)  No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit

 

43



 

and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123 rd  day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(8)  In the case of an election under clause (2) of this Section 4.2, the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company or the Guarantor has received from the Internal Revenue Service a letter ruling, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service a Revenue Ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(9)  In the case of an election under clause (3) of this Section 4.2, the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(10)  The Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, after the 123 rd  day after the date of deposit, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) pursuant to this clause (4) to be held in trust will not be subject to any case or proceeding (whether voluntary or involuntary) in respect of the Company or the Guarantor under any Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor issued in connection therewith.

 

(11)  The Company and the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate and the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance under clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

(12)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.2(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company or the Guarantor in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

(13)  Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a

 

44



 

Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 3.1 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) shall pay and indemnify the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 4.2(5) and Section 4.3, the “Trustee”) against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 4.2 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request, or the Guarantor upon Guarantor Request, as the case may be, any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 4.2.

 

Section 4.3                               Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent or the Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) and

 

45


 

Additional Amounts, if any; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

REMEDIES

 

Section 5.1                               Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to 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), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such Series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

(1)  default in the payment of any interest on any Security of such series, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when such interest becomes or such Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or

 

(2)  default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of such series, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when such principal or premium becomes or such Additional Amounts become due and payable at their Maturity; or

 

(3)  default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series; or

 

(4)  default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture or the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series or, if that series of Securities is held by an Assured Guaranty Trust, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of that Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5)  if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor (including, in each case, an Event of

 

46



 

Default under any other series of Securities), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created or incurred, shall happen and shall consist of default in the payment of more than $50,000,000 in principal amount of such Indebtedness at the maturity thereof (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) or shall result in such Indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and such default shall not be cured or such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series or, if that series of Securities is held by an Assured Guaranty Trust, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of that Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding, a written notice specifying such event of default and requiring the Company or the Guarantor to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(6)  the Company or the Guarantor shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith; or

 

(7)  the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:

 

(8)  a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency) or other similar law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(9)  a decree or order adjudging the Company or the Guarantor to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency), arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or the Guarantor and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(10)  a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company or the Guarantor of any substantial part of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or the Guarantor; or

 

(11)  the commencement by the Company or the Guarantor of a voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to insolvency) or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar

 

47



 

law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by the Company or the Guarantor of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or relief under any applicable law, or the consent by the Company or the Guarantor to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or any substantial part of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or the making by the Company or the Guarantor of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or the Guarantor in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(12)  any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 5.2                               Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 5.1) occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable; provided that, in the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, if, upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series fail to declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Property Trustee; and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount and all accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest and all other amounts due with respect to such Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article 16.

 

If an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 5.1 occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Outstanding Securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series) shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.

 

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the 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 in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series (subject to, in the case of any series of Securities held as assets of an Assured Guaranty Trust, such consent of the holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust as may be

 

48



 

required under the Trust Agreement of such Assured Guaranty Trust), by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

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

 

(2)  all overdue installments of any interest (including any Additional Interest) on and Additional Amounts with respect to all Securities of such series and any Coupon appertaining thereto,

 

(3)  the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,

 

(4)  to the extent that payment of such interest or Additional Amounts is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of any interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and

 

(5)  all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6; and

 

(6)  all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

 

In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, should the Holders of such Securities fail to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding shall have such right by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Property Trustee, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above of this Section 5.2.

 

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

 

Section 5.3                               Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each covenants, in each case, that if

 

(1)  default is made in the payment of any installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

49



 

(2)  default is made in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at their Maturity, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, with interest (including any Additional Interest) upon the overdue principal, any premium and (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable and, if the Securities are held by an Assured Guaranty Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid to such Assured Guaranty Trust in respect thereof) upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

If the Company or the Guarantor fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto 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 such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 5.4                               Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities of any series or the property of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or the Guarantor for the payment of any overdue principal, premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

50



 

(1)  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of any applicable series, of the principal and any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) and Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders of Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto allowed in such judicial proceeding, and (2) to collect and receive any monies 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 of Securities or any Coupons to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities or any Coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security or any Coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or Coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or any Coupon in any such proceeding.

 

Section 5.5                               Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or Coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or Coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of the Securities or Coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 5.6                               Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article and any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s or the Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, or any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities or Coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

51



 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and any Coupons for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and Coupons for principal and any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) and Additional Amounts, respectively;

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 5.7                               Limitations on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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

 

(2)  the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 such indemnity as is reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(5)  no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other 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 5.8                               Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or Coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 3.5, 3.7 and 3.11) interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security or payment of such Coupon, as the case may be, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security or Coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or,

 

52



 

in the case of repayment at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, any holder of Preferred Securities issued by such Assured Guaranty Trust shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) hereof, to institute directly a proceeding against the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of, and any premium and (subject to Sections 3.5, 3.7 and 3.11) interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities held by such holder (a “Direct Action”). Notwithstanding any payments made to a holder of Preferred Securities by the Company or the Guarantor in connection with a Direct Action, the Company and the Guarantor shall remain obligated to pay the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the related Securities, and the Company or the Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of such Preferred Securities with respect to payments on the Preferred Securities to the extent of any payments made by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to such holder in any Direct Action.

 

Section 5.9                               Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or a Coupon has, or the holders of Preferred Securities have, 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, to such Holder or to the holders of such Preferred Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and each such Holder or the holders of such Preferred Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and each such Holder or the holders of such Preferred Securities shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 5.10                         Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee, to each and every Holder of a Security or a Coupon or to the holders of Preferred Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11                         Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or Coupon or of the holders of Preferred 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

 

53



 

or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to any Holder of a Security or a Coupon or to the holders of Preferred Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, by such Holder or by such holders of Preferred Securities, as the case may be.

 

Section 5.12                         Control by Holders of Securities.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that

 

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

 

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

 

(3)  such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action.

 

(4)  such direction shall not involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 5.13                         Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto and, in the case of any Securities issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities issued by such Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding, may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1)  in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or any Coupons appertaining thereto, or

 

(2)  in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 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 5.14                         Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company and the Guarantor each covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the

 

54



 

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 and the Guarantor each expressly waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) 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.

 

Section 5.15                         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 any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.15 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 Outstanding Securities of any series or, if a series of Securities is held by an Assured Guaranty Trust, the holders of more than 10% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of that Assured Guaranty Trust then outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into other securities in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1                               Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(1)                                   Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(a)                                   the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(b)                                  in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not

 

55



 

they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein or any conclusions stated therein).

 

(2)  In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

(3)  No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(a)                                   this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (a) or (d) of this Section 6.1;

 

(b)                                  the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(c)                                   the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(4)  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.

 

(5)  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 6.2                               Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

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

 

56


 

(2)  any request or direction of the Company or of the Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order or by a Guarantor Request or Guarantor Order, as the case may be (in each case, other than delivery of any Security, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Guarantor’s Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, as the case may be;

 

(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 shall be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or, if such matter pertains to the Guarantor, a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate;

 

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

 

(5)  the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as is reasonably satisfactory to it 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, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to 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, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company and the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation .

 

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

 

(8)  the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

57



 

(9)  the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of such default or Event of Default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

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

 

(11)  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;

 

(12)  the Trustee may request that the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, deliver an Officer’s Certificate or Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate, as the case may be, setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(13)  anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company or Guarantor has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(14)  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, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action;

 

Section 6.3                               Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 7.3(3), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest (including any Additional Interest), if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities and Coupons of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(5) 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

 

58



 

the purpose of this Section, 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.

 

Section 6.4                               Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any Coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or the Coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 6.5                               May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Guarantor or the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities or Coupons and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company or the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

 

Section 6.6                               Money Held in Trust.

 

Except as provided in Section 4.3 and Section 10.3, money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed to in writing with the Company or the Guarantor.

 

Section 6.7                               Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) each agree:

 

(1)  to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)  except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse 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 or arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder (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 the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

59



 

(3)  to indemnify the Trustee and its agents, officers, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the trustee)) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their 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 themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person) or liability (including the compensation and expenses of counsel) in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series 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 or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to particular Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

To the extent permitted by law, any compensation due or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 5.1 is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 6.6 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 6.6.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination of this Indenture for any reason, or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

 

Section 6.8                               Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, that is eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000, and that is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 6.9                               Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(1)  Resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 6.9.

 

(2)  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 and the Guarantor. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the resigning Trustee or the Trustee being removed as hereafter

 

60



 

provided 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 such series.

 

(3)  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, the Company and the Guarantor.

 

(4)  If at any time:

 

(a)                                   the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantor or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

 

(b)                                  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.7 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantor or any such Holder, or

 

(c)                                   the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Guarantor, by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

(5)  If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Guarantor, by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of such 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 6.9. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, 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, the Guarantor and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith

 

61



 

upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.9, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company and the Guarantor. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.9, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(6)  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 by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. 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.

 

(7)  In no event shall any retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 6.10                         Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

(1)  Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantor and 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 hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantor or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 10.3, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien, provided for in Section 6.6.

 

(2)  Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee 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, such 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

 

62



 

Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, 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, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, 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 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, the Guarantor or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates and subject to Section 10.3 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the 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, subject to its lien, provided for in Section 6.6.

 

(3)  Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(4)  No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

Section 6.11                         Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of the Trustee shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case 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

 

63



 

may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

Section 6.12                         Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or partial repayment or pursuant to Section 3.6, 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 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 must be acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a Corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, 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, the Company and the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent, the Company and the Guarantor. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor and shall (i) mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as Bearer Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has its principal office if such office is located outside the United States. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers

 

64



 

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.

 

The Company and the Guarantor (without duplication) each agree to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

The provisions of Sections 3.8, 6.4 and 6.5 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

 

If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate by the Company), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.1                               Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company and the Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

65



 

(1)  semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than May 1 and November 1 of the year or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and

 

(2)  at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company or the Guarantor 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 so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

 

Section 7.2                               Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities or Coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.3                               Reports by Trustee.

 

(1)  Within 60 days after September 15 of each year commencing with the first September 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such September 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding September 15 and the date of this Indenture.

 

(2)  The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

 

(3)  Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.4                               Reports by Company and Guarantor.

 

The Company and the Guarantor, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall each:

 

(1)  file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual

 

66



 

reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(2)  file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3)  transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 7.4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or the Guarantor’s compliance with any of its respective covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificates, except as otherwise provided herein).

 

ARTICLE 8

 

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES

 

Section 8.1                               Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), and the Company shall not permit any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company; unless:

 

67


 

(1)  in case the Company shall consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation 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 as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by the successor Person and the Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities;

 

(2)  immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3)  in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, such transaction is permitted under the related Trust Agreement and does not give rise to any breach or violation of such Trust Agreement; and

 

(4)  either the Company or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 8.2                               Successor Person Substituted for Company.

 

Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by 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 to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Securities and the Coupons.

 

68



 

Section 8.3                               Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Guarantor shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor), or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor), and the Guarantor shall not permit any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into the Guarantor or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Guarantor; unless:

 

(1)  in case the Guarantor shall consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or Bermuda, or any other country which is on the date of this Indenture a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by the successor Person and the Company and delivered to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Guarantor to be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities;

 

(2)  immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3)  in the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, such transaction is permitted under the related Guarantee Agreement and does not give rise to any breach or violation of such Guarantee Agreement; and

 

(4)  either the Guarantor or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 8.4                               Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor.

 

Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by the Guarantor with or merger of the Guarantor into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets

 

69



 

of the Guarantor substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.3, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Guarantor 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 Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Guarantor herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Securities and the Coupons.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1                               Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or Coupons, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), the Guarantor (when authorized by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)  to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or the Guarantor, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, contained herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2)  to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be; or

 

(3)  to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be exchanged for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto in any material respect; or

 

(4)  to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or

 

(5)  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 6.9; or

 

70



 

(6)  to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not adversely affect, in any material respect, the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding or any Coupons appertaining thereto or, in the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust and for so long as any of the Preferred Securities issued by such Assured Guaranty Trust shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Preferred Securities; or

 

(7)  to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or

 

(8)  to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture); or

 

(9)  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 Article 4, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of an Outstanding Security of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto or any other Outstanding Security or Coupon or, in the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust and for so long as any of the Preferred Securities issued by such Assured Guaranty Trust shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Preferred Securities, in any material respect; or

 

(10)  to secure the Securities; or

 

(11)  to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of Holders of Securities of any series; or

 

(12)  to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or supplement shall materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities then Outstanding.

 

Section 9.2                               Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (and, in the case of any series of Securities held as assets of an Assured Guaranty Trust, such consent of holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust as may be required under the Trust Agreement of such Assured Guaranty Trust), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Company’s Board Resolution), the Guarantor (when authorized by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s 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 or of the Securities of such series;

 

71



 

provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

 

(1)  change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change the obligation of the Company and the Guarantor to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to the terms hereof (except as contemplated by Section 8.1(1) and permitted by Section 9.1(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.4, change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article 13, or change the Place of Payment, Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security 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, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment), 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 reduce the requirements of Section 15.4 for quorum or voting, or

 

(3)  modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of the Securities or the Guarantee in respect thereof in a manner adverse to Holders of Securities, or

 

(4)  modify or effect in any manner adverse to the Holders the terms and conditions of the obligations of the Guarantor in respect of the due and punctual payments of principal of, or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any sinking fund requirements or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities, or

 

(5)  modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.6, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or

 

(6)  make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security into or for securities of the Company or the Guarantor or other securities (whether or not issued by the Company or the Guarantor), cash or property in accordance

 

72



 

with its terms, provided that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, so long as any of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust remain outstanding, no such amendment shall be made that adversely affects the holders of such Preferred Securities, and no termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no waiver of any Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under this Indenture shall be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of the liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities then outstanding unless and until the principal of, any premium or, subject to Section 3.7, interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series have been paid in full; and provided further that in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, so long as any of the Preferred Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust remain outstanding, no amendment shall be made to Section 5.8 of this Indenture without the prior consent of the holder of each Preferred Security then outstanding unless and until the principal of, any premium or, subject to Section 3.7, interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series have been paid in full.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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

 

Section 9.3                               Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and an Officer’s Certificate and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been fulfilled. 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 9.4                               Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

73



 

Section 9.5                               Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

Section 9.6                               Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 9.7                               Effect on Senior Indebtedness.

 

No supplemental indenture shall directly or indirectly modify or eliminate the provisions of Article 16 or Article 18, as the case may be, in any manner which might terminate or impair the subordination of the Securities of any series to Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series or the subordination of the Guarantee in respect thereof to Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, respectively, without the prior written consent of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, respectively.

 

Section 9.8                               Notice of Supplemental Indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article, the Company shall transmit to the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby a notice setting forth the substance of such supplemental indenture; provided, however, that the failure to transmit such notice shall not affect the validity of such supplemental indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.1                         Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms thereof, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on any Bearer Security on or before the Maturity thereof, and any Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto for such interest as they severally mature.

 

74



 

Section 10.2                         Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company and the Guarantor shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series (but not Bearer Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company and the Guarantor shall maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an Office or Agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that if the Securities of such series are listed on The Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company and the Guarantor shall maintain a Paying Agent in London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Company and the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment at the place specified for the purpose with respect to such Securities as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and the Company and the Guarantor hereby appoint the Trustee as their agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, no payment of principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made at any Office or Agency in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, if amounts owing with respect to any Bearer Securities shall be payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, any premium or interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Office or Agency designated by the Company and the Guarantor in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts at all offices outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

 

The Company and the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor of its obligation to maintain an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company and the Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the

 

75



 

location of any such other Office or Agency. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantor hereby designate as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoint the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Office or Agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purpose. The Company and the Guarantor may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Securities of any series.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one exchange rate agent.

 

Section 10.3                         Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, or if the Guarantor shall act as Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall 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 shall, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, 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 shall 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, that such Paying Agent shall:

 

(1)  hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;

 

76


 

(2)  give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company or the Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(3)  at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company or the Guarantor 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 or Guarantor Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or the Guarantor, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or any such premium or interest or any such Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request (or if deposited by the Guarantor, paid to the Guarantor on Guarantor Request), or (if then held by the Company or the Guarantor) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company and the Guarantor 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company and the Guarantor cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of Registered Securities of such series, or both, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing nor shall it be later than two years after such principal and any premium or interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

Section 10.4                         Additional Amounts.

 

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series

 

77



 

established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of the applicable series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 10.4.

 

Section 10.5                         Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 8, the Company and the Guarantor shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate existences and that of each of their respective Subsidiaries and their respective rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not obligate the Company or the Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company, the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of such Subsidiary and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to any Holder.

 

Section 10.6                         Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 10.5 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived 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

 

78



 

become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 10.7                         Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

 

(1)  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that

 

(2)  a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of its performance under this Indenture has been made under his or her supervision, and

 

(3)  to the best of his or her knowledge, based on such review, (a) the Company has complied with all the conditions and covenants imposed on it under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to him or her and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

(4)  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of Section 5.1.

 

Section 10.8                         Guarantor Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

 

(1)  The Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Guarantor, stating that

 

(2)  a review of the activities of the Guarantor during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his or her supervision, and

 

(3)  to the best of his or her knowledge, based on such review, (a) the Guarantor has complied with conditions and covenants imposed on it under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to him or her and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes, or which after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

79



 

(4)  The Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of Section 5.1.

 

Section 10.9                         Additional Sums.

 

In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, in the event that (i) such Assured Guaranty Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of such Assured Guaranty Trust shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Company shall not have (i) redeemed the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 11.8 or (ii) terminated such Assured Guaranty Trust pursuant to Section 9.2(b) of the related Trust Agreement, the Company shall pay to such Assured Guaranty Trust (and its permitted successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement), for so long as such Assured Guaranty Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder of any Securities of such series, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by such Assured Guaranty Trust on the related Preferred Securities and Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes (the “Additional Sums”). Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Sums provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made, provided, however, that the extension of an interest payment period pursuant to Section 3.11 or the terms of the applicable Securities shall not extend the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable during such interest payment period.

 

Section 10.10                   Prohibition Against Dividends, etc.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Company and the Guarantor each covenant and agree with each Holder of Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust that it will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or (b) make any payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt security of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, that ranks junior in interest to the Securities of such series or the Guarantee in respect thereof, as the case may be, or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, of the debt securities of any Subsidiary of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, if such guarantee ranks junior in interest to the Securities of such series or the Guarantee in respect thereof, as the case may be (other than (i) dividends or distributions on the Capital Stock of the Company paid or made to the Guarantor and dividends or distributions in Common Stock of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case

 

80



 

may be, (ii) redemptions or purchases of any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or the declaration of a dividend of such rights or the issuance of stock under such plans in the future, (iii) payments under any Preferred Securities Guarantee, and (iv) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common Stock under any benefit plans of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, for its respective directors, officers or employees) if at such time (1) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has actual knowledge that (A) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event o Default hereunder and (B) in respect of which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the related Preferred Securities Guarantee or (3) the Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period as provided herein with respect to the Securities of such series and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.

 

Section 10.11                   Payment of Expenses of each Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

The Guarantor covenants for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities to pay or cause to be paid all of the obligations, costs and expenses of each Assured Guaranty Trust (other than payments in respect of Trust Securities) in accordance with the provisions of its Trust Agreement and to pay the taxes of such Assured Guaranty Trust in accordance with the provisions of its Trust Agreement in order to permit such Assured Guaranty Trust to make distributions on and redemptions of its Preferred Securities in accordance with such Trust Agreement.

 

Section 10.12                   Ownership of Common Securities.

 

The Company covenants, as to each series of Securities issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust in connection with the issuance of Preferred Securities and Common Securities by that Assured Guaranty Trust, (a) to maintain directly or indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company hereunder may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities, (b) not to voluntarily dissolve, wind-up or liquidate such Assured Guaranty Trust, except in connection with (i) a distribution of the Securities of such series to the holders of Preferred Securities and Common Securities in liquidation of such Assured Guaranty Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities of such Assured Guaranty Trust or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Trust Agreement of such Assured Guaranty Trust and (c) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the related Trust Agreement, to cause such Assured Guaranty Trust to remain classified as a grantor trust and not an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

81



 

ARTICLE 11

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.1                         Applicability of Article.

 

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article.

 

Section 11.2                         Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of (a) less than all of the Securities of any series or (b) all of the Securities of any series, with the same issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. If the Securities of a series are held by an Assured Guaranty Trust, the Company shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Property Trustee of such Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

Section 11.3                         Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into other securities of the Company or exchanged for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

82



 

Section 11.4                         Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)  the Redemption Date,

 

(2)  the Redemption Price,

 

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

 

(4)  in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

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

 

(6)  the place or places where such Securities, together (in the case of Bearer Securities) with all Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,

 

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

 

(8)  that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all Coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of any such missing Coupon or Coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any Paying Agent is furnished,

 

(9)  if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and no Registered Securities of such series are to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on the Redemption Date

 

83



 

pursuant to Section 3.5 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made,

 

(10)  in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible into Common Stock of the Company or exchangeable for other securities, the conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and

 

(11)  the CUSIP number or the Euroclear or the Cedel reference numbers of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depository to identify such Securities).

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 1.6 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

 

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.

 

Section 11.5                         Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company or the Guarantor shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 11.4, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent or the Guarantor is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on and Additional Amounts with respect thereto, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 11.6                         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 and the Guarantor shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and the Coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with any accrued interest and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Bearer Securities of such series, installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of Coupons for such interest (at an Office or Agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2), and provided, further, that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such

 

84



 

series, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

 

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that any interest or Additional Amounts represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such Security located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 11.7                         Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (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 Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the U.S. Depository or other Depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

 

Section 11.8                         Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust.

 

In the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Assured Guaranty Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if a Special Event in respect of such Assured Guaranty Trust shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities of such series within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of this Section 11.8 and the other provisions of this Article 11. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series, the

 

85



 

redemption price for any Security so redeemed pursuant to this Section 11.8 shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Securities then Outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest, including any Additional Interest, to the date fixed for redemption.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.1                         Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

 

Section 12.2                         Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company or the Guarantor may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If, as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 12.2, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to satisfy the remaining sinking fund payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request or Guarantor Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company or the Guarantor from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee of

 

86



 

Securities of that series purchased by the Company or the Guarantor having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company or the Guarantor.

 

Section 12.3                         Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officer’s Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 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 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.

 

ARTICLE 13

 

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 13.1                         Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 3.9, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.1, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

 

87


 

ARTICLE 14

 

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

 

Section 14.1                         Applicability of Article.

 

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company or the Guarantor may specify in a written notice to the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 15

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.1                         Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

Section 15.2                         Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(1)  The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series have been issued in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, in London or in such place outside the United States as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2)  In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), the Guarantor (by or pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to Section 1.6) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series are to be issued as Bearer Securities, in

 

88



 

London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section.

 

Section 15.3                         Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel, any representatives of the Guarantor and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 15.4                         Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any reconvened meeting, such reconvened meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such reconvened meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 15.2(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the Coupons appertaining thereto, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

 

89



 

Section 15.5                         Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 1.4 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.4 or other proof.

 

(2)  The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 15.2(2), in which case the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(3)  At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4)  Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 15.2 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 15.6                         Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the

 

90



 

meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 15.2 and, if applicable, Section 15.4. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and the Guarantor, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

ARTICLE 16

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 16.1                         Agreement to Subordinate.

 

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder and under any indenture supplemental hereto or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate and Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate (“Additional Provisions”) by such Holder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article 16; and each Holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment by the Company of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all Securities of each series issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article 16 shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 16.2                         Default on Company Senior Indebtedness.

 

In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other amount due on any Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, or in the event that the maturity of any Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series has been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 16.2, such

 

91



 

payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Company Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Company Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 16.3                         Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

 

Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on account of the principal of, premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series; and upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, or in any such bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article 16, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Company Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Company Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Company Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Holders of the Securities of such series or to the Trustee.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing shall be received by the Trustee before all such Company Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Company Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all such Company Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Company Senior

 

92



 

Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this Article 16, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article 16 with respect to the Securities of the relevant series to the payment of all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Company Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance, transfer or lease of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided for in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 16.3 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 16.2 or in this Section 16.3 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section 16.4                         Subrogation.

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Company Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 16, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16 to or for the benefit of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities of such series or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities of such series, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Company Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article 16 are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series, on the one hand, and the holders of the Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article 16 or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities of any series is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series, and the Holders of the Securities of such series, the obligation of the

 

93



 

Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities of such series the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security of such series from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article 16 of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 16, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities of any series, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 16.

 

Section 16.5                         Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

 

Each Holder of Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article 16 and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 16.6                         Notice by the Company.

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 16 or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 16.6 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without

 

94



 

limitation, the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 16, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Company Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 16, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 16, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding-up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities of any series, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 16.

 

Section 16.7                         Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Company Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 16 in respect of any Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With respect to the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article 16, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness

 

95



 

and, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders of the Securities of such series, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 16 or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article 16 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 16.8                         Subordination May Not Be Impaired

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Company Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of such series, without incurring responsibility to such Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article 16 or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities of such series to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Company Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Company Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Company Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Company Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Company Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

 

ARTICLE 17

 

GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

 

Section 17.1                         The Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, any Additional Amounts, and, if applicable, any Additional Sums with respect to such Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund payments (if any) provided for pursuant to the terms of such Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such Security and of this Indenture. In case of the failure of the Company punctually to pay any such principal, premium, interest (including any Additional Interest), Additional Amounts, Additional Sums or sinking fund

 

96



 

payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

 

Section 17.2                         Net Payments.

 

All payments of principal of and premium, if any, interest (including any Additional Interest) and any other amounts on, or in respect of, the Securities of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto shall be made by the Guarantor without withholding or deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Bermuda (a “taxing jurisdiction”) or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, unless such taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required to be withheld or deducted by (i) the laws (or any regulations or ruling promulgated thereunder) of a taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (ii) an official position regarding the application, administration, interpretation or enforcement of any such laws, regulations or rulings (including, without limitation, a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a taxing authority in a taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof). If a withholding or deduction at source is required, the Guarantor shall, subject to certain limitations and exceptions set forth below, pay to the Holder of any such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto such Additional Amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount made to such Holder, after such withholding or deduction, shall not be less than the amount provided for in such Security, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make payment of such Additional Amounts for or on account of:

 

(1)  any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge of whatever nature which would not have been imposed but for the fact that such Holder: (A) was a resident, domiciliary or national of, or engaged in business or maintained a permanent 101 establishment or was physically present in, the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof or otherwise had some connection with the relevant taxing jurisdiction other than by reason of the mere ownership of, or receipt of payment under, such Security; (B) presented such Security for payment in the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof, unless such Security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere; or (C) presented such Security more than thirty (30) days after the date on which the payment in respect of such Security first became due and payable or provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts if it had presented such Security for payment on any day within such period of thirty (30) days;

 

(2)  any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(3)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of such Security to comply with any reasonable request by the Guarantor addressed to the Holder within 90 days of

 

97



 

such request (A) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (B) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (A) or (B), is required or imposed by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the relevant taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or (4) any combination of items (1), (2) and (3); nor shall Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, interest or any other amounts on, any such Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such Security to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the relevant taxing jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or relevant taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or partner or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had it been the Holder of the Security.

 

Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium, interest or any other amounts on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding the payment of Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of the applicable series, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to a series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate, the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, a Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, interest or any other amounts on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto without withholding for or on account of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or other governmental charge described in this Section 17.2. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate shall specify by taxing jurisdiction the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Guarantor agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section 17.2. The Guarantor covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Guarantor’s Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 17.2.

 

98


 

Section 17.3                         Guarantee Unconditional, etc.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as principal and not merely as surety, and shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of any Security or this Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of any Security or this Indenture, or any waiver, modification, consent or indulgence granted with respect thereto by the Holder of such Security or the Trustee, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any action to enforce the same, or any other circumstances which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any such Security or the Indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts, and, if applicable, any Additional Sums and sinking fund payments required with respect to, the Securities and the complete performance of all other obligations contained in the Securities. The Guarantor further agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, the Maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 5.2 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or prohibition extant under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of any jurisdiction preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

Section 17.4                         Reinstatement.

 

This Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment on any Security, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored to the Company or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

Section 17.5                         Subrogation.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of any Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts and, if applicable, any Additional Sums and sinking fund payments required with respect to, all Securities shall have been paid in full.

 

Section 17.6                         Indemnity.

 

As a separate and alternative stipulation, the Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that any sum expressed to be payable by the Company under this Indenture, the Securities or the Coupons but which is for any reason (whether or not now known or becoming known to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder of any Security or Coupon) not

 

99



 

recoverable from the Guarantor on the basis of a guarantee will nevertheless be recoverable from it as if it were the sole principal debtor and will be paid by it to the Trustee on demand. This indemnity constitutes a separate and independent obligation from the other obligations in this Indenture, gives rise to a separate and independent cause of action and will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Trustee or any Holder of any Security or Coupon.

 

ARTICLE 18

 

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTEE

 

Section 18.1                         Agreement to Subordinate Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article 18; and each Holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, any Additional Amounts and, if applicable, any Additional Sums with respect to all Securities of each series issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article 18 shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 18.2                         Default on Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Guarantor in the payment of principal, premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or any other amount due on any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, or in the event that the maturity of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series has been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee with respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts or, if applicable, Additional Sums with respect to, the Securities of such series.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 18.2, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or

 

100



 

representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 18.3                         Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

 

Upon any payment by the Guarantor or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee on account of the principal of, premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or Additional Amounts or, if applicable, Additional Sums with respect to, the Securities of such series; and upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, or in any such bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding, any payment by the Guarantor, or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Guarantor, except for the provisions of this Article 18, shall be paid by the Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Guarantor) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made pursuant to the Guarantee to the Holders of the Securities of such series or to the Trustee.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing shall be received by the Trustee before all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Guarantor, for application to the payment of all such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

101



 

For purposes of this Article 18, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Guarantor as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Guarantor or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article 18 with respect to the Guarantee in respect of any series of Securities to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Guarantor with, or the merger of the Guarantor into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Guarantor following the conveyance, transfer or lease of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided for in Sections 8.3 and 8.4 of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 18.3 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Sections 8.3 and 8.4 of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 18.2 or in this Section 18.3 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section 18.4                         Subrogation.

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Guarantor applicable to such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts or, if applicable, Additional Sums with respect to, the Securities of such series shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 18, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article 18 to or for the benefit of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities of such series or the Trustee, shall, as between the Guarantor, its creditors other than holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities of such series, be deemed to be a payment by the Guarantor to or on account of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article 18 are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series, on the one hand, and the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article 18 or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities of any series is intended to or shall impair, as between the Guarantor, its creditors other than the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series, and the Holders of the Securities of such series, the obligation of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities of such series pursuant to the Guarantee the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts or, if applicable, Additional Sums with

 

102



 

respect to, the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series and creditors of the Guarantor, other than the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security of such series from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article 18 of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Guarantor, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor referred to in this Article 18, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities of any series, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and other indebtedness of the Guarantor, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 18.

 

Section 18.5                         Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

 

Each Holder of Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article 18 and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 18.6                         Notice by the Guarantor.

 

The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Guarantor that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 18. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 18 or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 18, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Guarantor or a holder or holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 18.6 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment pursuant to the Guarantee of the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts or, if applicable, Additional Sums with respect to, any Security of such series), then, anything herein contained to the

 

103



 

contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 18, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 18, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor referred to in this Article 18, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding-up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities of any series, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and other indebtedness of the Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 18.

 

Section 18.7                         Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 18 in respect of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article 18, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders of the

 

104



 

Securities of such series, the Guarantor or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 18 or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article 18 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 18.8                         Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Guarantor, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Guarantor with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of such series, without incurring responsibility to such Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article 18 or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities of such series to the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Guarantor and any other Person.

 

*  *  *

 

105



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY MUNICIPAL HOLDINGS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY,

 

as Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

106




QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 5.3

 
   
    Mayer Brown LLP
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606-4637

Main Tel (312) 782-0600
Main Fax (312) 701-7711
www.mayerbrown.com

March 30, 2010

Assured Guaranty Ltd.
30 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM08
Bermuda

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc.
31 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019

Re:
Registration Statement on Form S-3

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have represented Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., a New York corporation ("Holdings"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to debt securities of Holdings (the "Holdings Debt Securities"). We have also represented Assured Guaranty Ltd., a Bermuda company ("AGO"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of the Registration Statement relating to guarantees by AGO (the "AGO Debt Securities Guarantees") of the Holdings Debt Securities. All such securities are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities." Certain terms of the Securities will be established by or pursuant to resolutions of Holdings' Board of Directors and/or AGO's Board of Directors, as applicable, (the "Corporate Proceedings").

        In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined and relied upon such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and certificates as to factual matters executed by officers of Holdings or AGO as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have assumed the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents, records and certificates submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents, records and certificates submitted to us as copies and the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the originals of all documents, records and certificates submitted to us as copies. We have assumed the legal capacity and genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which the opinions expressed herein are rendered.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications expressed below, we are of the opinion that:


        We are admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and the State of New York and we express no opinions as to matters under or involving any laws other than the laws of the State of Illinois, the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America.

        We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement.

 
   

  Very truly yours,

 

/s/ MAYER BROWN LLP


Mayer Brown LLP



QuickLinks


QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 12.1

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(in millions of U.S. dollars except for ratio amounts)

 
  2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  

Income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 229.6   $ 190.0   $ (463.0 ) $ 112.3   $ 132.9  

Fixed charges

    14.5     14.8     24.7     25.2     66.3  

Income (loss) as adjusted

    244.1     204.8     (438.3 )   137.5     199.2  

Fixed charges:

                               
 

Interest expensed

    13.5     13.8     23.5     23.3     62.8  
 

Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (all premises)

                            3.5  
 

Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (1251 Ave of Am)

                      0.7        
 

Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (1325 Ave of Am)

    1.0     1.0     1.2     1.2        

Total fixed charges

    14.5     14.8     24.7     25.2     66.3  
                       

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

    16.83     13.84     (17.74 )   5.46     3.00  
                       



QuickLinks

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (in millions of U.S. dollars except for ratio amounts)

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 23.1


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 1, 2010 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
March 29, 2010




QuickLinks

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 23.2


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 18, 2009 relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. (formerly Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.), which appears in Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s Current Report on Form 8-K for July 1, 2009. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
March 29, 2010




QuickLinks

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 24.3


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and officer of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitutes and appoints Dominic J. Frederico, Robert Mills and James M. Michener, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to sign a registration statement (the "Registration Statement") to effect the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of debt securities and other securities of the Company and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by such registration statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute, or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ SÉAN W. MCCARTHY


Séan W. McCarthy
 

Chief Operating Officer; Director

  March 30, 2010



QuickLinks

POWER OF ATTORNEY

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 24.4


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned directors and officers of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitute and appoint Dominic J. Frederico, Robert Mills and James M. Michener, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to sign a registration statement (the "Registration Statement") to effect the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of debt securities and other securities of the Company and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by such registration statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute, or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO


Dominic J. Frederico
 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

  March 30, 2010

/s/ SÉAN W. MCCARTHY


Séan W. McCarthy
 

Chief Operating Officer; Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT B. MILLS


Robert B. Mills
 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer); Director

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ ROBERT A. BAILENSON


Robert A. Bailenson
 

Managing Director and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 30, 2010

/s/ JAMES M. MICHENER


James M. Michener
 

General Counsel and Secretary; Director

 

March 30, 2010




QuickLinks

POWER OF ATTORNEY