UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 19, 2011

 

GFI GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-51103

 

80-0006224

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

55 Water Street

 

 

New York, NY

 

10041

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (212) 968-4100

 

Not Applicable

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

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On July 19, 2011, GFI Group Inc. (“ GFI ”) announced the closing of its private offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”) to “Qualified Institutional Buyers,” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act.  In connection with the closing of the offering, on July 19, 2011, GFI entered into an indenture (the “ Indenture ”) with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, governing the Notes. The Notes will bear an interest rate of 8.375% per annum and will mature on July 19, 2018.  Interest on the Notes will be payable on January 19 and July 19 of each year, beginning on January 19, 2012.  The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of GFI, ranking equally in right of payment with all other senior unsecured obligations of GFI.

 

The net proceeds from the offering are being used to (i) repay the entire $135.0 million of principal amount and any accrued and unpaid interest outstanding under that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2010, (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among GFI, GFI Group Holdings Limited, the guarantors party thereto, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as co-syndication agents and the lenders party thereto, (ii) redeem $60 million of aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 7.17% Senior Notes and pay all accrued and unpaid interest thereunder and all premiums and transaction expenses associated therewith, and (iii) to fund GFI’s working capital and any acquisitions it may undertake.  The Credit Agreement will remain in effect following repayment, however, available Aggregate Revolving Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement) have been reduced to approximately $129 million following the issuance of the Notes.

 

The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part at any time, at the option of GFI, for cash, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or (2) as calculated by a quotation agent, an amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the treasury rate plus 50 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

The offering of the Notes was not registered under the Securities Act and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

 

In connection with the closing of the offering, GFI entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), dated as of July 19, 2011, with Jefferies & Company, Inc.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, GFI has agreed to, among other things, file with the Securities & Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the Notes for an issue of SEC-registered notes with terms substantially identical to the Notes (except that the exchange notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer as described in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

The above descriptions of the Notes does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights and obligations thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a Form of 8.375% Senior Note due 2018 and the Indenture, copies of which are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.1 and 4.2, respectively and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Indenture does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights and obligations thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights and obligations thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

2



 

Item 2.03.    Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of the Registrant

 

See disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)Exhibits:

 

Exhibit

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Form of 8.375% Senior Note due 2018.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2011, by and between GFI Group Inc., as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee, relating to the 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 of GFI Group, Inc.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2011, by and between GFI Group Inc. and Jefferies & Company, Inc., relating to the GFI Group Inc.’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018.

 

3



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

GFI GROUP INC.

 

 

Date: July22, 2011

By:

/s/ Scott Pintoff

 

Name:

Scott Pintoff

 

Title:

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

4


Exhibit 4.1

 

FORM OF NOTE

[GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND](1)

 

UNLESS THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC, OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC, OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 

[RESTRICTIVE LEGEND](2)

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-

 


(1)  Remove if a definitive note.

(2)  Remove if in accordance with Section 305(2)(b) of the Indenture.

 



 

DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE ISSUER SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

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GFI GROUP INC.

 

8.375% Senior Notes due 2018

 

Certificate No. [ ]

CUSIP No.  [ ]

Global Security

ISIN No.  [ ]

 

GFI GROUP INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to herein), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal amount of [                        ] Dollars ($[              ]) on July 19, 2018 (the “ Stated Maturity Date ”), unless redeemed on any Redemption Date (as defined on the reverse hereof) (the Stated Maturity Date or any Redemption Date is referred to herein as the “ Maturity Date ” with respect to the principal repayable on such date), upon surrender of this Note at the office or agency of the Company for such payment in The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount until the Maturity Date at the rate of 8.375% per annum based on a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months (the “ Interest Rate ”), in like coin or currency, semi-annually on January 19 and July 19 of each year, commencing on January 19, 2012, until the date on which payment of said principal amount has been made or duly provided for; provided , however , that if this Note is in the form of a global Security, then payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on this Note may be made at the Company’s option by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by the Depositary for this Note; provided further , that if this Note is not in the form of a global Security, then payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note may be made at the Company’s option by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the records of the Security Registrar.  Interest on this Note shall accrue on the outstanding principal amount thereof from, and including, the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from, and including, July 19, 2011, in each case to, but excluding, the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be.    The interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be payable to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the 15 th calendar day  immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day), except as otherwise provided in the Indenture.

 

If the Maturity Date or any Interest Payment Date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, payable with respect to the Maturity Date or such Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, will be paid on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Maturity Date or such Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, and no additional interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after the Maturity Date or such Interest Payment Date, as the case may be, to the next Business Day.  As used herein, “ Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which banking institutions or trust companies in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation, or executive order to close.

 

3



 

This Note is issued pursuant to, and shall be governed by, that certain Indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of July 19, 2011, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”).  Capitalized terms used in this Note without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

 

The provisions of this Note are continued on the reverse hereof, and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Note shall not be entitled to the benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

[ This Space Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GFI Group Inc. has caused this instrument to be duly signed.

 

 

 

GFI GROUP INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

James A. Peers

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

5



 

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

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N. A., as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

Dated: July 19, 2011

 

 

6



 

[REVERSE OF NOTE]

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of a series of debt securities (the “ Securities ”) of the Company, designated as its 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 (such series, the “ Notes ”).  The Securities, including the Notes, are all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture, and all Company Resolutions and Officers’ Certificates as provided therein, reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  The Notes are initially limited to TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION Dollars ($250,000,000) aggregate principal amount; provided , however , that, without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, the Company may at any time (other than when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes) issue additional Securities under the Indenture in unlimited amounts having the same terms as the Notes other than the issue price, the date from which interest accrues and in certain circumstances, the first Interest Payment Date applicable thereto.  Any such Securities will constitute a single series of Securities with such Notes for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

This Note will constitute part of the Company’s general unsecured and senior obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding.  This Note will be issuable in fully registered book-entry form only without coupons, in minimum denominations of two thousand Dollars ($2,000) and integral multiples of one thousand Dollars ($1,000) in excess thereof.

 

In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to this Note, the principal hereof may be declared due and payable immediately, and upon such declaration shall become immediately due and payable, in the manner, with the effect, and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.  The Indenture permits the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, in the manner and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, to waive certain past defaults and rescind and annul such past declarations and their consequences under the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture with respect to the Notes or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium thereon, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, if any, thereon or make the principal thereof or premium, if any, or interest, if any, thereon payable in any currency other than as provided pursuant to the Indenture or this Note, without the consent of the Holders of each Note so affected; or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage in principal amount of the Notes, without the consent of the Holder of all Notes then outstanding, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or waive compliance with any of the provisions contained in Article Ten of the Indenture.

 

7



 

The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions and no Holder of the Notes shall have any right to cause the Company to redeem any Notes at the option of the Holder.

 

The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time or from time to time, on a date fixed for redemption (any such date, a “ Redemption Date ”), for cash, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

(i)                                      100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed on such Redemption Date; or

 

(ii)                                   as calculated by the Quotation Agent (as defined below), an amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes being redeemed on such Redemption Date (not including the amount, if any, of unpaid interest accrued to, but excluding, such Redemption Date) discounted to such Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 0.50% (or 50 basis points);

 

plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued on such Notes to, but excluding, such Redemption Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on each Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the registered Holder as of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

The Company shall mail notice of each redemption in the manner provided in the Indenture not less than thirty nor more than sixty days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed.  Once notice of redemption is mailed, the Notes called for redemption will become due and payable on the applicable Redemption Date at the applicable redemption price together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, but excluding the Redemption Date.

 

In connection with such optional redemption, the following defined terms apply:

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means, for the Notes, the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity (or interpolated maturities) comparable to the remaining term of such Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

 

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

 

8



 

Quotation Agent ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (A) Jefferies & Company, Inc. (and its affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) three other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date and the Notes to be redeemed, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for such Notes (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi—annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

On and after any Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price therefor).  On or prior to 11:00a.m. (local time in New York City) on any Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with a paying agent (or the Trustee) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and (except if the Redemption Date will be an Interest Payment Date) any accrued interest on, the Notes to be redeemed on such date to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.  If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, then the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot by the Depositary, or pursuant to the customary procedures of the Depository in the case of Notes represented by a global Security, or by the Trustee by a method the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate, in the case of Notes that are not represented by a global Security.

 

The Interest Rate will be subject to adjustment from time to time if any of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if applicable, any Substitute Rating Agency for any of the foregoing downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt rating assigned to the Notes (a “ Rating ”) as set forth below:

 

If the Rating from S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) of the Notes is decreased to a Rating set forth in the immediately following table, the Interest Rate on the Notes will increase from the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued by the percentage points set forth opposite that Rating:

 

 

S&P Rating*

 

Interest Rate
Adjustment

 

BB+

 

0.25

%

BB

 

0.50

%

BB-

 

0.75

%

B+ or below

 

1.00

%

 

9



 


*Or the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency.

 

If the Rating from Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) of the Notes is decreased to a Rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Notes will increase from the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued by the percentage points set forth opposite that Rating:

 

Moody’s Rating*

 

Interest Rate
Adjustment

 

Ba3

 

0.25

%

B1

 

0.50

%

B2

 

0.75

%

B3 or below

 

1.00

%

 


*Or the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency.

 

If the Rating from Fitch (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) of the Notes is decreased to a Rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Notes will increase from the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued by the percentage points set forth opposite that Rating:

 

Fitch Rating*

 

Interest Rate
Adjustment

 

BB+

 

0.25

%

BB

 

0.50

%

BB-

 

0.75

%

B+ or below

 

1.00

%

 


* Or the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency.

 

If subsequent to a Rating decrease any of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if applicable, a Substitute Rating Agency for any of the foregoing), as the case may be, subsequently increases or decreases its Rating of the Notes to any of the Ratings set forth above, the applicable per annum interest rate on the Notes will be increased or decreased such that the applicable per annum interest rate for the Notes equals the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued plus (if applicable) the sum of the percentages set forth opposite the applicable Ratings from the tables above in effect immediately following the Rating increase or decrease. If S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) subsequently increases its rating of the Notes to BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or higher, Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) increases its rating to Ba2 (or its equivalent, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or higher and Fitch (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) subsequently increases its Rating to BBB (or its equivalent, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or higher, the applicable per annum interest rate on the Notes will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued.

 

Each adjustment to the applicable per annum interest rate required by any decrease or increase in the Ratings set forth above, whether occasioned by the action of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if applicable, any Substitute Rating Agency for any of the foregoing),

 

10



 

shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall (1) the applicable per annum interest rate for the Notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued or (2) the total increase in the applicable per annum interest rate on the notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued.

 

Except as provided below, no adjustments in the applicable per annum interest rate of the Notes shall be made solely as a result of a Rating Agency ceasing to provide a Rating of the Notes. If at any time fewer than two Rating Agencies provide a Rating of the notes for a reason beyond the Company’s control, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Rating of the Notes from a Substitute Rating Agency, to the extent one exists, and if a Substitute Rating Agency exists, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the applicable per annum interest rate on the Notes pursuant to the tables above (a) such Substitute Rating Agency will be substituted for the last Rating Agency to provide a Rating of the Notes but which has since ceased to provide such Rating, (b) the relative ratings scale used by such Substitute Rating Agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for purposes of determining the applicable Ratings included in the applicable table above with respect to such Substitute Rating Agency, such Ratings will be deemed to be the equivalent Ratings used by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as applicable, in such table and (c) the applicable per annum interest rate on the Notes will increase or decrease, as the case may be, such that the applicable per annum interest rate equals the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued plus the appropriate percentage points, if any, set forth opposite the Rating from such Substitute Rating Agency in the applicable table above (taking into account the provisions of clause (b) above) (plus any applicable percentage points resulting from a decreased Rating by any other Rating Agency). For so long as only one Rating Agency (including any Substitute Rating Agency) provides a Rating of the Notes, any subsequent increase or decrease in the applicable per annum interest rate of the Notes necessitated by a reduction or increase in the Rating by the Rating Agency providing the Rating shall be two times the percentage points set forth in the applicable table above. For so long as no Rating Agency (including any Substitute Rating Agency) provides a Rating of the Notes, the applicable per annum interest rate on the Notes will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00 percentage points above the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued; provided, however, that no adjustments in the applicable per annum interest rate of the Notes shall be made solely as a result of a Rating Agency ceasing to exist or ceasing to provide Ratings generally at such time.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any point in time the Rating Agencies (including any Substitute Rating Agency) cease to exist or cease to provide Ratings generally and the Company has not been able to appoint any Substitute Rating Agency despite the use of its commercially reasonable best efforts as required above, the interest rate on the Notes shall be the interest rate payable on the Notes when originally issued.  The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a Rating on the Notes from each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.

 

Any increase or decrease in the applicable per annum interest rate, as described above, will take effect from the first day of the interest period immediately following the applicable interest period during which a Rating change requires an adjustment in the applicable per annum interest rate. If the applicable per annum interest rate adjusts up and then

 

11



 

subsequently adjust down during the same interest period, the applicable per annum interest rate shall be determined based on the Ratings in effect at the end of the interest period.

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes in accordance with the redemption terms as set forth in the Notes and the Indenture, the Company shall make an irrevocable offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at the Change of Control Repurchase Price (as defined below).

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but in either case, after the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Company shall mail to each Holder of the Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice:

 

(i)             describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event;

 

(ii)            offering to repurchase all Notes tendered;

 

(iii)           setting forth the Change of Control Repurchase Date (as defined below);

 

(iv)           if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, stating that the offer to repurchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Repurchase Date specified in such notice;

 

(v)            disclosing that any Note not tendered for repurchase will continue to accrue interest; and

 

(vi)           specifying the procedures for tendering Notes.

 

The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this section, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this section by virtue of such conflict.

 

On the Change of Control Repurchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)             accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) properly tendered pursuant to such offer;

 

12



 

(ii)            deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered; and

 

(iii)           deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being repurchased by the Company.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Repurchase Price, and the Trustee, upon the execution and delivery by the Company of such Notes, will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Company shall not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

 

In connection with such interest rate adjustment and change of control covenant set forth above, the following defined terms shall apply:

 

Below Investment Grade Rating Event ” means the Notes cease to be Rated Investment Grade by at least two of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the related Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the Rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in Rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if any of the Rating Agencies making the reduction in Rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)            the direct or indirect sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a

 

13



 

series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties or assets and those of the Company’s subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries;

 

(2)            the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution;

 

(3)            the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, one or more of the Company’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries or a Permitted Holder, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; provided that a transaction shall not constitute a “Change of Control” under this definition if (i) the sole purpose of the transaction is to change the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation and (ii) the Company’s shareholders and the number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock, measured by voting power and number of shares, owned by each of them immediately before and immediately following such transaction are identical; or

 

(4)            the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Voting Stock or such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction.

 

Change of Control Repurchase Date ” means the date on which the Company will repurchase the  Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event, which date shall not be less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the date of the Company’s mailing of notice to Holders that a Change of Control Repurchase Event had occurred.

 

Change of Control Repurchase Event ” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a related Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

 

Change of Control Repurchase Price ” means an amount in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid

 

14



 

interest on those Notes, to but not including, the Change of Control Repurchase Date.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch Inc., a subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A. and any successors thereto.

 

Investment Grade ” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch), a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s),  and BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Substitute Rating Agency.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (or any successor to the rating agency business thereof).

 

Permitted Holder ” means:

 

(i)             Mr. Michael A. Gooch and his guardians, conservators, committees or attorneys-in-fact;

 

(ii)            lineal descendants of Mr. Gooch (a “descendant”) and their respective guardians, conservators, committees or attorneys-in-fact;

 

(iii)           any trusts created for the benefit of any of the persons described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition; and

 

(iv)           Jersey Partners Inc. and any of its affiliates.

 

Rating Agency ” means each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a Rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the Company may select another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act as a replacement agency for such Rating Agency, a “Substitute Rating Agency”; provided, that no single Substitute Rating Agency may be a replacement agency for more than one Rating Agency.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successors thereto.

 

Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any class or kind, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

 

15



 

The Company will promptly furnish to the Holders of the Notes notices of:

 

(i)               any Payment Default under any instrument evidencing Indebtedness for borrowed money, and

 

(ii)            any acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity.

 

In addition to the Events of Default included in the Indenture, the following additional Event of Default shall be applicable to the Notes:

 

Failure by the Company to make an offer to repurchase or repurchase the Notes tendered for repurchase following the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event in conformity with the covenant set forth above.

 

Sections 401 and 402 of the Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes.

 

The Company shall not pay any additional amounts on any of the Notes to any person, including any Holder who is not a United States Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted.

 

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

 

This Note is transferable by the Holder hereof in person or by his attorney duly authorized in writing on the books of the Company at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company for that purpose in the City of New York, but only in the manner, subject to the limitations and upon payment of any tax or governmental charge for which the Company may require reimbursement as provided in the Indenture, and upon surrender and cancellation of this Note.  Upon any registration of transfer, a new registered Note or Notes, of authorized denomination or authorized denominations and like tenor and terms, and in the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor.

 

The Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notations of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest due hereon as herein provided and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or any Company Resolution, against any Person other than the Company or against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or any other Person, whether by virtue

 

16



 

of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance of this Note, expressly waived and released.

 

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

17



 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of
decrease in
Principal amount
of this Global Note

 

Amount of increase
in Principal
amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or Notes
Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18


Exhibit 4.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

GFI Group Inc.,

Issuer

 

and

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A.,

Trustee

 

 


 

INDENTURE

 


 

 

Dated as of July 19, 2011

 

 

Debt Securities

 

 

 



 

GFI Group Inc.

 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939

 

Trust Indenture

 

 

Act Sections

 

Indenture Sections

§ 310(a)(1)

 

608

                               (a)(2)

 

608

                               (b)

 

607

§ 311(a)

 

612

                               (b)

 

612

§ 312(a)

 

701

                               (b)

 

702

                               (c)

 

702

§ 313(a)

 

703(1)

                               (b)

 

703(1)

                               (c)

 

703(1)

                               (d)

 

703(2)

§ 314(a)

 

704

                               (a)(4)

 

1010

                               (c)(1)

 

102

                               (c)(2)

 

102

                               (e)

 

102

§ 315(a)

 

601

                               (b)

 

602

                               (c)

 

601

                               (d)

 

601

                               (e)

 

515

§ 316(a)

 

101 (“Outstanding”)

                               (a)(1)(A)

 

502

 

 

512

                               (a)(1)(B)

 

513

                               (b)

 

508

                               (c)

 

104

§ 317(a)(1)

 

503

                               (a)(2)

 

504

                               (b)

 

1003

§ 318(a)

 

108

 


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

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

2

 

 

Section 101.

Definitions

2

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

11

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

12

Section 104.

Acts of Holders

12

Section 105.

Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company

13

Section 106.

Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver

14

Section 107.

Language of Notices

14

Section 108.

Conflict with the Trust Indenture Act

14

Section 109.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

15

Section 110.

Successors and Assigns

15

Section 111.

Separability Clause

15

Section 112.

Benefits of Indenture

15

Section 113.

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

15

Section 114.

Legal Holidays

15

Section 115.

Counterparts

16

Section 116.

Extension of Payment Dates

16

Section 117.

Immunity of Officers and Agents of the Company

16

Section 118.

Force Majeure

16

Section 119.

U.S.A. Patriot Act

16

Section 120.

Facsimile Notices

17

 

 

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS

17

 

 

 

Section 201.

Forms Generally

17

Section 202.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

17

Section 203.

Securities in Global Form

18

 

 

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

19

 

 

 

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

19

Section 302.

Currency; Denominations

23

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

23

Section 304.

Temporary Securities

24

Section 305.

Registration, Transfer and Exchange

25

Section 306.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

32

Section 307.

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

33

Section 308.

Persons Deemed Owners

34

 

i



 

Section 309.

Cancellation

36

Section 310.

Computation of Interest

36

Section 311.

CUSIP Numbers

36

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

37

 

 

 

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge

37

Section 402.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

38

Section 403.

Application of Trust Money

42

Section 404.

Reinstatement

43

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

43

 

 

 

Section 501.

Events of Default

43

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

45

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

46

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

47

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities

48

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected

48

Section 507.

Limitations on Suits

48

Section 508.

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

49

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

49

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

50

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

50

Section 512.

Control by Holders of Securities

50

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults

51

Section 514.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws

51

Section 515.

Undertaking for Costs

51

 

 

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

52

 

 

 

Section 601.

Certain Rights, Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

52

Section 602.

Notice of Defaults

54

Section 603.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

55

Section 604.

May Hold Securities

55

Section 605.

Money Held in Trust

55

Section 606.

Compensation and Reimbursement

55

Section 607.

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

56

Section 608.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

57

Section 609.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

57

Section 610.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

58

Section 611.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

60

Section 612.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

60

 

ii



 

Section 613.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

60

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS

62

 

 

 

Section 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

62

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

63

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee

63

Section 704.

Reports by Company

63

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

64

 

 

 

Section 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

64

Section 802.

Successor Person Substituted for Company

65

 

 

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

65

 

 

 

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

65

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

67

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

68

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

69

Section 905.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

69

Section 906.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

69

Section 907.

Notice of Supplemental Indentures

69

 

 

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

69

 

 

 

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

69

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

70

Section 1003.

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

70

Section 1004.

Additional Amounts

72

Section 1005.

Corporate Existence

73

Section 1006.

Maintenance of Properties

73

Section 1007.

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

73

Section 1008.

Limitation on Liens

73

Section 1009.

Waiver of Certain Covenants

74

Section 1010.

Company Statement as to Compliance

74

Section 1011.

Calculation of Original Issue Discount

74

Section 1012.

Statement by Officers as to Default

74

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

75

 

 

 

Section 1101.

Applicability of Article

75

Section 1102.

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

75

 

iii



 

Section 1103.

Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

75

Section 1104.

Notice of Redemption

76

Section 1105.

Deposit of Redemption Price

77

Section 1106.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

77

Section 1107.

Securities Redeemed in Part

78

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

78

 

 

 

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article

78

Section 1202.

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

79

Section 1203.

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

79

 

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

80

 

 

 

Section 1301.

Applicability of Article

80

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A – Regulation S Certificate

Exhibit B – Rule 144A Certificate

 

iv



 

INDENTURE, dated as of July 19, 2011 (the “Indenture”), between GFI Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (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 senior unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such fixed or floating 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 and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (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 as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE ONE


DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101.                                 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 GAAP;

 

(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”);

 

(6)           provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(7)           the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange and the terms “merge” and “merged” have correlative meanings;

 

(8)           the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter; and

 

(9)           references herein to Articles, Sections, other subdivisions and Exhibits are references to Articles, Sections, other subdivisions and Exhibits of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

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 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by this Indenture or by any Security, or by the terms of any Security established pursuant to Section 301, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified herein or therein.

 

2



 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, 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 correlative meanings.

 

“Agent Member” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(c)

 

“Applicable Procedures” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(c)

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 613 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 not Business Days 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 place meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

 

“Business Day” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions or trust companies in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close; provided that such term shall mean, when used with respect to any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of any series to be made at any Place of Payment for such Securities, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Securities, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person;

 

but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

3



 

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

 

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person 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 a Senior Financial Officer and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Company Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Company to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“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 either (A) 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 this Indenture is located at 525 William Penn Place, Suite 153-3800, Pittsburgh, PA 152592, Attention: Corporate Trust Division — Corporate Finance Unit or (B) for purposes of Section 1002, “Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered in The City of New York, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Division — Corporate Finance Unit or such other address as the Trustee may designate.

 

“Corporation” means a corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company or other company or business trust.  The term “corporation” means a corporation and does not include a partnership, association, limited liability company or other company or business trust.

 

“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.

 

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

 

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

 

“Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as depository by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, and, unless otherwise provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person.  If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the depository which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

 

“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 501.

 

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

 

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency 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.

 

“GAAP” and “generally accepted accounting principles” mean, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America as of the date or time of any computation required hereunder.

 

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the relevant 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.

 

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

 

“Indebtedness,” means, as of any date of determination, all items classified as indebtedness on the Company’s most recently available consolidated balance sheet, in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively, and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security and established pursuant to Section 301 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof), provided , however , that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively, and shall include the terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established pursuant to Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

 

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

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien, or other encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law.

 

“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 or such Security, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption at the option of the Company, upon repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and includes a Redemption Date for such Security and a date fixed for the repurchase or repayment of such Security at the option of the Holder.

 

“Office” or “Agency,” with respect to any Securities, means an office or agency of the Company maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other office or agency of the Company maintained or designated for such Securities

 

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pursuant to Section 1002 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by a Senior Financial Officer and by the Secretary (however designated) or an Assistant Secretary (however designated) of the Company that 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 other counsel, who is acceptable to the Trustee that is delivered to the Trustee.

 

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

 

“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 (or, to the extent that such Security is payable at such Maturity in securities or property, such securities or property in the necessary amount, together with, if applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities) has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 402) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities, 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 has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, except to the extent provided in Section 402;

 

(d)                                  any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, 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

 

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(e)                                   any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into securities or property, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 301;

 

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 (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 due and payable upon acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 502 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 purpose shall be equal to the principal 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 that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes 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 or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company 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 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 or any other obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate of the Company 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 on behalf of the Company.

 

“Person” and “person” mean any individual, Corporation, 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.

 

“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 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security.

 

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“QIBs” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a).

 

“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.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the regular record date for the payment of such interest.

 

“Regulation S” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a).

 

“Regulation S Global Security” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a)(1).

 

“Regulation S Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(c).

 

“Regulation S Security” and “Regulation S Securities” have the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a)(2).

 

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 601(2)(c)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 602 shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Restricted Period” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(d).

 

“Restrictive Legend” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(b).

 

“Rule 144A” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a).

 

“Rule 144A Book-Entry Security” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a)(1).

 

“Rule 144A Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(d).

 

“Rule 144A Security” and “Rule 144A Securities” have the meaning specified in Section 305(2)(a)(1).

 

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

 

“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

 

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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 305.

 

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Company.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Company which is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in clause (w) of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission (as such regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture), determined based upon the Company’s most recent consolidated financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year as set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (or 10-K/A) filed with the Commission; provided that, in the case of a subsidiary formed or acquired after the date of this Indenture, the determination of whether such subsidiary is a Significant Subsidiary shall be made on a pro forma basis based on the Company’s most recent consolidated financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, as set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K (or 10-K/A), as applicable, filed with the Commission.

 

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

 

“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, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) any Corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the Corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such person or a subsidiary of that person or (b) the only general partners of which are that person or one or more subsidiaries of that person (or any combination thereof).

 

“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

 

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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.

 

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

 

“United States,” means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction; and the term “United States of America” means the United States of America.

 

“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.

 

“Voting Security,” means stock of any class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation in question, provided that, for the purposes hereof, stock that carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered voting stock whether or not such event shall have happened.

 

Section 102.                                 Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all 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 in this Indenture shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                   a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

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(4)                                   a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 103.                                 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

 

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

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, unless such officer has actual knowledge 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, a governmental official or officers or any other Person or Persons, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company unless counsel rendering the Opinion of Counsel has actual knowledge should know, that the certificate, 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 104.                                 Acts of Holders .

 

(1)                                   Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, 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.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  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 conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a 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 or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests

 

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in any such global Security through such Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

(2)                                   The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; 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 and principal amount of 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)                                   If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Company Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of the Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act.  Notwithstanding Trust Indenture Act 316(c), any such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Company Resolution, which shall be a date not more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and no later than the date such first solicitation is completed.

 

If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized, 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 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.

 

(5)                                   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 or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

 

Section 105.                                 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company .

 

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 or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (including facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

 

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(2)           the Company by the Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing (including facsimile) and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or by overnight courier, to the Company addressed to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer 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.

 

Section 106.                                 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, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  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.

 

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 107.                                 Language of Notices .

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

Section 108.                                 Conflict with the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

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Section 109.                                 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 110.                                 Successors and Assigns .

 

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

 

Section 111.                                 Separability Clause .

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or any Security shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 112.                                 Benefits of Indenture .

 

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

 

Section 113.                                 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE, THEREOF 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 TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 114.                                 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, or any other day on which a payment is due with respect to, any Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day in the City of New York or at any Place of Payment, then payment need not be made, in the case such day is not a Business Day in The City of New York, or at such Place of Payment, in the case such day is not a Business Day at such Place of Payment, as the case may be, on such day, but such payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a relevant Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on any such other payment date, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such day or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding Business Day.

 

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Section 115.                                 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 116.                                 Extension of Payment Dates .

 

In the event that (i) the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable and (ii) the due date for any such payment shall have been so extended, then all references herein to the Stated Maturity of such payment (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to refer to the date as so extended.

 

Section 117.                                 Immunity of Officers and Agents of the Company.

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any past, present or future partner, employee or officer, as such, of the Company or of any of the Company’s predecessors or successors, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 118.                                 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, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of any governmental authority, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or 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.

 

Section 119.                                 U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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Section 120.                                 Electronic Notices .

 

The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with instructions and directions sent by e-mail and other similar unsecured electronic methods (other than facsimile) by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company.  The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions or directions.  The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

 

Section 201.                                 Forms Generally .

 

The Securities of each series shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Company Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established 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 officer of the Company executing such Securities as evidenced by the execution thereof.

 

The definitive Securities 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 officer of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by the execution of such Securities.

 

Section 202.                                 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

 

Subject to Section 613, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N. A., as Trustee

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Section 203.                                 Securities in Global Form .

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall not be issuable in global form.  If Securities of a series shall be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, any such Security may provide that it or any principal amount of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser principal amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon or reflected on the books and records of the Trustee and may also provide that the aggregate principal 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 principal amount, or any increase or decrease in the principal 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 pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect thereto.  Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the applicable Company Order.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, in the event a global Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities as provided in Section 305, then, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver such global Security to the extent necessary to effect such exchanges, shall endorse such global Security to reflect any decrease in the principal amount thereto resulting from such exchanges and shall take such other actions, all as contemplated by Section 305.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, 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 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of the principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security the Holder of such global Security in registered form.

 

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ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301.                                 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series .

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series.

 

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Company Resolutions and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of any Securities of a series,

 

(1)           the title of the Securities of such series;

 

(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of 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 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107, upon repayment in part of any Security of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into securities or property pursuant to its terms);

 

(3)           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 specified in Section 305, (iii) the name of the Depository with respect to any such global Security and (iv) if applicable and in addition to the Persons specified in Section 305, the Person or Persons who shall be entitled to make any endorsements on any such global Security and to give the instructions and take the other actions with respect to such global Security contemplated by the first paragraph of Section 203;

 

(4)           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 is payable;

 

(5)           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 Securities on any Interest Payment Date, the notice, if any, to

 

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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;

 

(6)           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 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 in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;

 

(7)           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;

 

(8)           if 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;

 

(9)           the denominations in which any of such Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

(10)                             whether such Securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable for securities or property, 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;

 

(11)                             if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

(12)                             if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which purchases of such Securities must be made and 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;

 

(13)                             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 a Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or

 

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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;

 

(14)                             if 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 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;

 

(15)                             any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company 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), and if Section 1009 shall be inapplicable with respect to any such additional covenants;

 

(16)                             if any one or more of Section 401 relating to satisfaction and discharge,  Section 402(2) relating to defeasance or Section 402(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to such Securities, and any covenants in addition to or other than those specified in Section 402(3) relating to such Securities which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and, if such Securities are subject to repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holders thereof pursuant to Article Thirteen, if the Company’s obligation to repurchase or repay such Securities will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and, if the Holders of such Securities have the right to convert or exchange such Securities into securities or property, if the right to effect such conversion or exchange will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article Four (including any modification which would permit satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance to be effected with respect to less than all of the outstanding Securities of such series) in respect of such Securities;

 

(17)                             if 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;

 

(18)                             if any of such Securities are 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

 

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satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(19)                             whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts on such Securities to any holder who is a United States Alien in respect of any tax, assessment or other government charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;

 

(20)                             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;

 

(21)                             the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture; and

 

(22)                             any other terms of such Securities and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder, denomination and the rate of interest, 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 Company Resolution and set forth in the Officers’ 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 Company Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, pertaining to such series of Securities  and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Company Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Company Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided by the Company as contemplated by this Section 301, a series may be reopened from time to time without the consent of any Holders 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 Company Resolution, the Company Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

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Section 302.                                 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, the Securities of any series shall be denominated in Dollars shall be issuable only in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  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 303.                                 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company. The signature of the Company on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Company Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 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, the Trustee shall receive, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon,

 

(1)                                   A copy of the Company Resolution pursuant to which the terms and form of the Securities were established or, if the terms and form of such Securities are established by an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to general authorization of the board of directors of the Company, such Officers’ Certificate;

 

(2)                                   an executed supplemental indenture, if any;

 

(3)                                   an Officers’ Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 102; and

 

(4)                                   an Opinion of Counsel to the following effect, which Opinion of Counsel may contain such assumptions, qualifications and limitations as such counsel shall deem appropriate:

 

(a)                                   the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with Sections 201 and 301 of this Indenture;

 

(b)                                  all conditions precedent set forth in Sections 201, 301 and 303 of this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been complied with and that such Securities when completed by appropriate insertions (if applicable),

 

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executed 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 valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law); and

 

(c)                                   that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with.

 

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 Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 202 or 613 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.

 

Section 304.                                 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 303, 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 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 set forth in this Indenture or the provisions established pursuant to Section 301, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, 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.  Except as

 

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otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, 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.  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 305.                                 Registration, Transfer and Exchange .

 

(1)                                   General Transfer and Exchange Provisions

 

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 Securities of such series and of transfers of 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 initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities shall be as specified in the last paragraph of Section 1002.  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.  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.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a 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 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.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, at the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other 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 Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the global Securities of any series shall be exchangeable for definitive certificated Securities of such series only if (i) the Depository for such global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depository for such global Securities or at any time the Depository for such global Securities ceases to be a clearing agency registered as

 

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such under the Exchange Act, if so required by applicable law or regulation, and no successor Depository for such Securities shall have been appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notification or of the Company becoming aware of the Depository’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Securities of such series shall no longer be represented by one or more global Securities and executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Securities shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such 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 paragraph, 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 Depository (or its custodian) as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto (which the Company agrees to deliver), and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository (which instructions shall be in writing), 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 shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as shall be specified by the Depository; 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.  Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository (or its custodian) or such other Depository (or its custodian) referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above, and the Trustee shall endorse such global Security to reflect the decrease in the principal amount thereof resulting from such exchange.  If a 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 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 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 evidencing the same debt and entitling the Holders thereof

 

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to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the 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 of Securities, or any redemption or repayment of Securities, or any conversion or exchange of Securities for other types of securities or property, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107, upon repayment or repurchase in part of any Security pursuant to Article Thirteen, or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into  securities or property pursuant to its terms, in each case 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 the selection for redemption of Securities of like tenor and terms and of the same series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) 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 pursuant to Article Thirteen and not withdrawn, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

(2)                                   Transfer and Exchange Provisions for Securities Issued in Transactions Exempt from, or Not Subject to, Registration Under the Securities Act

 

The provisions of this Section 305(2) shall not be applicable to any series of Securities that have been registered under the Securities Act, other than to the extent applicable in Section 305(2)(b) and (i).  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities (other than Section 305(1) hereof), transfers and exchanges of Securities and beneficial interests in a global Security of the kinds specified in this Section 305(2) shall be made only in accordance with this Section 305(2).

 

(a)                                   The Securities of any series that have not been registered under the Securities Act shall be resold initially by the initial purchasers of such Securities only to (x) qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) in reliance on Rule 144A (“QIBs”) and (y) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”)) in reliance on Regulation S.  The Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S of the Securities Act in accordance with the procedures described herein.

 

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(1)           Securities offered and sold to QIBs in the United States of America in reliance on Rule 144A (each, a “Rule 144A Security” and collectively, the “Rule 144A Securities”) shall be issued in the form of a global Security, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 305(2)(b) below  (the “Rule 144A Global  Security”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture.  The Rule 144A Global Security may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by the Depository’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate.  The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for Depository or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

 

(2)           Securities offered and sold outside the United States of America (each, a “Regulation S Security” and collectively, the “Regulation S Securities”) in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued in the form of a global Security, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 305(2)(b) below (the “Regulation S Global Security”) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture.  The Regulation S Global Security may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by the Depository’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

 

(b)                                  Unless and until a Rule 144A Global Security or a Regulation S Global Security is sold under, or exchanged in connection with, an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or transferred or sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, such Security shall bear the following legend (the “Restrictive Legend”) on the face thereof:

 

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL

 

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NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE ISSUER SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

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(c)                                   Rule 144A Global Security to Regulation S Global Security .  If the owner of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security wishes at any time to transfer such interest to a person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the provisions of this Section 305(2)(c), and subject to the Applicable Procedures (as defined below).  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (x) an order given by the Depository or its authorized representative directing that a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount be credited to a specified Agent Member’s (as defined below) account and that a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security in an equal principal amount be debited from another specified Agent Member’s account and (y) a Regulation S Certificate (a “Regulation S Certificate”), in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, duly executed by the owner of such beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), then the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall reduce the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Security and increase the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security by such specified principal amount as provided in this Section 305(2).  “Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository or its successors or assigns, in each case, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.  “Agent Member” means members of, or participants in, the Depository.

 

(d)                                  Regulation S Global Security to Rule 144A Global Security .  If the owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security wishes at any time to transfer such interest to a person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this Section 305(2)(d) and subject to the Applicable Procedures.  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (x) an order given by the Depository or its authorized representative directing that a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security in a specified principal amount be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and that a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security in an equal principal amount be debited from another specified Agent Member’s account and (y) a Rule 144A Certificate (a “Rule 144A Certificate”), in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto, duly executed by the owner of such beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), then the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall reduce the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security and increase the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Security by such specified principal amount as provided in this Section 305(b).

 

(e)                                   Rule 144A Non-Global Security to Rule 144A Global Security or Regulation S Global Security .  If the holder of a Rule 144A Security (other than a global Security) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such Security to a person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the provisions of this Section 305(2)(e) and subject to the Applicable

 

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Procedures.  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (x) such Security and instructions satisfactory to the Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such Security be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and (y) a Rule 144A Certificate, if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security, or a Regulation S Certificate, if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security, in either case duly executed by such holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), then the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall cancel such Security (and issue a new Security in respect of any untransferred portion thereof) and increase the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, by the specified principal amount as provided in this Section 305(2).

 

(f)                                     Regulation S Non-Global Security to Rule 144A Global Security or Regulation S Global Security .  If the holder of a Regulation S Security (other than a Global Security) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such Security to a person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this Section 305(2)(f) and subject to the Applicable Procedures.  Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (x) such Security and instructions satisfactory to the Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such Security be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and (y) if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security, a Rule 144A Certificate duly executed by such holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), then the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall cancel such Security (and issue a new Security in respect of any untransferred portion thereof) and increase the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, by the specified principal amount as provided in this Section 305(2).

 

(g)                                  Non-Global Security to Non-Global Security .  A Security that is not a global Security may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a person who takes delivery in the form of another Security that is not a global Security in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Security; provided, that the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall have received (x) a Rule 144A Certificate duly executed by the transferor holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), in which case the transferee holder shall take delivery in the form of a Rule 144A Security, or (y) a Regulation S Certificate duly executed by the transferor holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), in which case the transferee holder shall take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Security (subject in each case to Section 305(2)(i)).

 

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(h)                                  Exchange between Global Security and Non-Global Security .  A beneficial interest in a global Security may be exchanged for a Security that is not a global Security in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Security; provided, that the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall have received (x) a Rule 144A Certificate duly executed by the transferor holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), in which case the transferee holder shall take delivery in the form of a Rule 144A Security, or (y) a Regulation S Certificate duly executed by the transferor holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing (the Trustee may conclusively presume such due execution without any inquiry on its part), in which case the transferee holder shall take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Security (subject in each case to Section 305(2)(i)).  A Security that is not a global Security may be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a global Security only if such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer effected in accordance with Section 305(2)(e) or (f) herein.

 

(i)                                      Restrictive Legend .  Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Securities not bearing a Restrictive Legend, the Security Registrar shall deliver Securities that do not bear a Restrictive Legend.  Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Securities bearing a Restrictive Legend, the Security Registrar shall deliver only Securities that bear a Restrictive Legend unless there is delivered to the Security Registrar an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

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

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 306, 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.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed

 

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in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall (to the extent lawful) 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.

 

Section 307.                                 Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

 

Any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any 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 Security of any series which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (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, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)           The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such 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 in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit 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.  Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted

 

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Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such 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 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 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 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 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, at the option of the Company, interest on Securities on any Interest Payment Date 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 of America.

 

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

 

Section 308.                                 Persons Deemed Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No owner 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 Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or

 

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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.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the applicable Depository, as a Holder, with respect to a global Security or impair, as between such Depository and the owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its nominee) as the Holder of such global Security.

 

None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in a global Security, an Agent Member or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any Agent Member, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities.  All notices and communications to be given to the holders of the Securities and all payments to be made to holders of the Securities under the Securities and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of the global Security).  The rights of beneficial owners in the global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable procedures.  The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its Agent Members, participants and any beneficial owners.  The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to deal with the Depository, and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such global Security) as the sole holder of such global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof.  None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depository with respect to such global Security, for the records of any such Depository, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such global Security, for any transactions between the Depository and any Agent Member or between or among the Depository, any such Agent Member and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such global Security.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depository (or its nominee), as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or shall impair, as between such Depository and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

 

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None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 309.                                 Cancellation .

 

All Securities 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, as well as Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and 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 held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

Section 310.                                 Computation of Interest .

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311.                                 CUSIP Numbers.

 

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

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 401.                                 Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

Unless, pursuant to Section 301, the provisions of this Section 401 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of any series, upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order, and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1)           either

 

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

 

(b)                                  all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i)                                      have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has 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 not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and, to the extent that the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities, 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;

 

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(2)           the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

In the event there are Securities of two or more series Outstanding 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 to the Trustee under Section 606 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 and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 305, 306, 403, 404, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, 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 401(1)(b)), any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into securities or property, shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

Section 402.                                 Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance .

 

(1)                                   Unless, pursuant to Section 301, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 402 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 402 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 402 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Company may at its option by Company Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of or within such series, elect to have Section 402(2) or Section 402(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 402. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, defeasance under clause (2) of this Section 402 and covenant defeasance under clause (3) of this Section 402 may be effected only with respect to all, and not less than all, of the Outstanding Securities of any series.  To the extent that the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal

 

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of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable, then unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, the right to extend such date shall terminate upon defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be.

 

(2)                                   Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”).  For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 402 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (2), and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:  (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely (except as provided in subclause (ii) below) from the trust fund described in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 and as more fully set forth in this Section 402 and 403, 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 when such payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, 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 clause (4)(a) of this Section 402)), any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into securities or property, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 402 and Sections 403 and 404.  The Company may exercise its option under this Section 402(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 402(3) with respect to such Securities.

 

(3)                                   Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 1005 and under Sections 1006, 1007 and 1008 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 301, any other covenant applicable to such Securities with respect to such Securities shall cease to be applicable to such Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities 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

 

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defeasance means, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or any such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

(4)                                   The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 402 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

 

(a)                                   The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 608 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 402 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, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be) 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, 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, and, to the extent that such Securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Outstanding Securities on the Maturity or Stated Maturity of such principal or interest, and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

 

(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 any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound.

 

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(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 shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, and, solely in the case of defeasance under Section 402(2), no Event of Default with respect to such Securities under clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities under clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition to defeasance under Section 402(2) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(d)                                  In the case of defeasance pursuant to Section 402(2), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel shall confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 such defeasance had not occurred; or, in the case of covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402(3), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders and beneficial owners of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e)                                   The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, under this Indenture have been complied with.

 

(f)                                     If the monies or Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under subclause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and, to the extent provided in such subclause (a), Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities on a particular Redemption Date, the Company shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and to provide notice of such redemption to Holders as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(g)                                  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 402(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 in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

 

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(5)                                   Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee—collectively for purposes of this Section 402(5) and Section 403, the “Trustee”) pursuant to clause (4)(a) of Section 402 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 402(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(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 402(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security 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 subclause (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 shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 402 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.

 

Anything in this Section 402 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 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 402.

 

Section 403.                                 Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 402 shall be held

 

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in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) of the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has or Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 404.                                 Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee appointed pursuant to Section 402(4)(a)) or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401(1) or 402(4)(a) to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no such deposit had occurred, until such time as the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such moneys and Government Obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 401 or 402 as the case may be, and Section 403; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations as aforesaid, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

 

Section 501.                                 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, Company Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

(1)           default in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any of the Securities of such series when such interest or such Additional Amounts, as the case may be, become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

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(2)           default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series when due (whether at Maturity, upon redemption, exercise of a repurchase right, acceleration or otherwise and whether payable in cash or in securities or property); or

 

(3)           a default by the Company in the payment in respect of any other Indebtedness when due, either at Maturity, upon redemption, upon exercise of a repayment or repurchase right, upon acceleration or otherwise, in an aggregate principal amount of at least $25.0 million beyond any grace period, or default in the performance or compliance with any term respecting such Indebtedness, if as a consequence such debt becomes due and payable before its stated maturity, under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company; or

 

(4)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture for the benefit of Holders of Securities of such series or any of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 501 or a covenant which has expressly been included in this Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been waived in accordance of the provisions of this Indenture) for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, or overnight courier, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of 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 (it being agreed that the Company’s performance of such covenant during such 90-day period shall constitute a cure of such default or breach); or

 

(5)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable U.S. federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(6)           the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable

 

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U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company, or the filing by the Company of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable U.S. federal or state law, or the consent by the Company to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company, or the making by the Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(7)           any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 502.                                 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501) with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate 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, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 with respect to the Securities of any series occurs, then the principal of all of the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued an unpaid interest, if any, thereon 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 the Securities of such series.

 

At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated (whether by declaration of the Trustee or the Holders or automatically) 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 a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1)           the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (or, to the extent that the terms of the Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301 expressly provide for payment to be made in securities or property, securities or property, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities, sufficient to pay)

 

(a)                                   all overdue installments of any interest on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,

 

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(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 any Additional Amounts with respect thereto and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest thereon at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities,

 

(c)                                   to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest upon installments of any interest, if any, which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by 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 606; 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 513.

 

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

 

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

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(1)           default is made in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any Security when such interest or Additional Amounts, as the case may be, 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 any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any Security at its Maturity, or

 

(3)           default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due,

 

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts

 

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at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for or with respect to such Securities or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by 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 606.

 

If the Company 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 any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, 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 by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary 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 504.                                 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of 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 such series, of the principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders 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 to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly

 

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to the Holders, 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 606.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 505.                                 Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities .

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery 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 a Security in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506.                                 Application of Money Collected .

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to the Securities of any series or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable  in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, 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 such Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606;

 

SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities 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 for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts; and

 

THIRD:  The balance, if any, to the Company or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 507.                                 Limitations on Suits .

 

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

 

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(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 aggregate 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 security or indemnity 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 aggregate 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 (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

Section 508.                                 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 shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium, if any, and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and, in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange, as the case may be, such Security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and any such right to convert or exchange, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509.                                 Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the

 

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Company, 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 510.                                 Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

 

To the extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security 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 511.                                 Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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 may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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 512.                                 Control by Holders of Securities .

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

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

 

(2)           such direction will not involve the Trustee  in personal liability or expense,

 

(3)           conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any series,

 

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

 

(5)           such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action.

 

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Section 513.                                 Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except

 

(1)           a default 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

 

(2)           in the case of any Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for securities or property, a default in any such conversion or exchange, or

 

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

 

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

 

Section 514.                                 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

 

The Company 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 stay or extension law or any usury law or any other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Securities as contemplated herein and therein or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee or the Holders, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

Section 515.                                 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 disbursements, 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 515 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

 

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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 at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into securities or property in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601.                                 Certain Rights, Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee .

 

(1)  Certain Rights of Trustee .  Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this Section 601 and Trust Indenture Act Sections 315(a) through (d) and in connection with this Indenture and any Securities issued hereunder:

 

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

 

(b)                                  any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order (in each case, other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Company may be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Resolution;

 

(c)                                   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 Officers’ Certificate;

 

(d)                                  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;

 

(e)                                   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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f)                                     the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness

 

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or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company, 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;

 

(g)                                  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;

 

(h)                                  anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of any such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(i)                                      the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless written notice of such default or Event of Default from the Company or a Holder is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

(j)                                      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;

 

(k)                                   the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and

 

(l)                                      the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(2)  Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

 

(a)                                   Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(i)                                      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

 

(ii)                                   in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such

 

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certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

 

(b)                                  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.

 

(c)                                   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

 

(i)                                      this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (2)(a) and 2(d)of this Section 601;

 

(ii)                                   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

 

(iii)                                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.

 

(d)                                  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.

 

(e)                                   Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

Section 602.                                 Notice of Defaults .

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series (but in no event less than 15 days after notice thereof), the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided , however , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series or in the conversion or exchange of any Security of such series into securities or property in accordance with its terms, 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

 

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withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further , that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.  For the purpose of this Section, 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 603.                                 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, 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, if any, 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.  The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture.  The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with or the breach of, or cause to be performed or observed, any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

 

Section 604.                                 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 Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

 

Section 605.                                 Money Held in Trust .

 

Except as provided in Section 403 and Section 1003, 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 in writing with the Company.

 

Section 606.                                 Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing from time to time 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);

 

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(2)           except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have determined to have been caused by the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)           to indemnify the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or reasonable expense (including, without limitation, taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee’s agents, legal counsel, accountants and experts) 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 reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder, or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense was determined to have been caused by the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company 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, or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities.

 

In addition to and without prejudice to its other rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any then applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.  “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 606 shall include any predecessor Trustee; but the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 606.  The provisions of this Section 606 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Notes and the Indenture, any termination of this Indenture (including, without limitation, termination pursuant to any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law) and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 607.                                 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.  For purposes of Section 310(b)(10) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby and permitted by applicable law, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any other series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its

 

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capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any other series or any securities of any series issued under any other indenture in respect of which the Company is an obligor.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Trustee from making the application referred to in the penultimate sentence of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 608.                                 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, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.  Such trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 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 609.                                 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 610.

 

(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.  If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 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 and the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed 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.

 

(4)                                   If at any time:

 

(a)                                   the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it hereunder with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company 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 608 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

 

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(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 Company Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) 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 Company Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 610.  If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.  If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 610, 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 all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 610.                                 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 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,

 

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trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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 1003, 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 606.

 

(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 retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, 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 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 relates and subject to Section 1003 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, if any, provided for in Section 606.

 

(3)                                   Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for 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.

 

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(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 611.                                 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 trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder (provided that such Person shall otherwise be qualified and eligible under this Article), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.  In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any such successor 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. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee.

 

Section 612.                                 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or other obligor under the Securities (other than by reason of a relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).  A trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein, as qualified by Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b).

 

Section 613.                                 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, partial repayment, partial conversion or exchange for securities or property, or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.

 

Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus 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.

 

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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 and the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.  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 agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

The provisions of Sections 308, 603 and 604 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:

 

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

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N. A.,

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

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 Officers’ Certificate of 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 SEVEN

COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS

 

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

 

The Company 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 Company 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 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.

 

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Section 702.                                 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities, and the Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b).  The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

 

Further, every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Trust Indenture Act Section 312.

 

Section 703.                                 Reports by Trustee.

 

(1)                                   The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

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

 

Section 704.                                 Reports by Company.

 

The Company shall, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, provide to the Holders of the Notes, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations:

 

(1)                                   all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, if the Company were required to file those Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and

 

(2)                                   all reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K, if the Company were required to file the reports.

 

Whether or not required by the Commission’s rules and regulations, the Company will file a copy of all the information described in clauses (1) and (2) above with the Commission, within the time periods specified above, unless the Commission will not accept the filing.  The Company will also make the information described in clauses (1) and (2) above available to Holders who request it in writing, unless the Company has filed such information with the Commission via the EDGAR Filing System and such information is publicly available.  Filing of any such annual report, information, documents and such other reports on the Commission’s

 

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EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) or any other publicly available database maintained by the Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section, provided that the Trustee shall have no duty to determine whether any such filing shall have occurred.

 

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 notice or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

 

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

 

The Company shall not, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge into any Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise convey all or substantially all assets to any Person, unless:

 

(1)                                   either (A) the Company shall be the continuing Person (in the case of a merger), or (B) the successor Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or which acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, 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 such successor corporation and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory 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 Outstanding Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, and which supplemental indenture shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into securities or property;

 

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

 

(3)                                   either the Company or, if there is one, the successor Person if other than the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such

 

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transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, any sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance of all or any of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (other than to the Company or another Subsidiary), which, if such properties and assets were owned by the Company, would constitute all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

Section 802.                                 Successor Person Substituted for Company .

 

Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger of the Company into any other Person or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any Person in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance 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 and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901.                                 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders .

 

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

 

(1)           to evidence and provide for the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer permitted under this Indenture; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company 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 with respect to all or any series of Securities issued under this Indenture (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures); or

 

(3)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form,

 

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registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated or global form; or

 

(4)           to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including, without limitation, any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, and any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection therewith (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding); 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 610; or

 

(6)           to cure any ambiguity or defect in or to correct or supplement any provision herein or in any Security that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or in the series of Securities with respect to such Security; or

 

(7)           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

 

(8)           to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security of such series or any other Security; or

 

(9)           to secure the Securities or to add guarantees for the benefit of the Securities; or

 

(10)                             to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or in any Securities (which amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of Securities or to one or more Securities within any series as specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures), provided that such amendment or supplement does not apply to any Outstanding Security issued prior to the date of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of such provision; or

 

(11)                             to modify any restrictions on, procedures for and legending related to resale, attempted resale, and other transfers applicable to any series of Securities to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or interpretation thereof); provided, however, that (a) compliance with the Indenture as so amended may not result in Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities laws and (b) any such modification shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding in any material respect; or

 

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(12)                             in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for securities or property, to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding securities or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Company with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 301; or

 

(13)                             to make any other change or modification that does not, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors of the Company, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding.

 

Section 902.                                 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

 

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as separate classes) by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Company 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 the Securities of such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, 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 premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium, if any, thereon or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon, or reduce the amount payable upon redemption thereof at the option of the Company or repayment or repurchase thereof at the option of the Holder, or reduce any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, or change the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect the right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article Thirteen, or change the Place of Payment where or the 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 or repurchase pursuant to Article Thirteen at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment or repurchase) in each case as such Stated Maturity, Redemption Date or date for repayment or repurchase may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such Security, or in the case of any Security which is

 

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convertible into or exchangeable for securities or property, impair the right to institute suit to enforce the right to convert or exchange such Security in accordance with its terms, 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 Section 513 or 1009 of this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1404 for quorum or voting, or

 

(3)           modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or

 

(4)           make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security for securities or property in accordance with its terms.

 

Other than as set forth above, a supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if more than one series of Securities is Outstanding, the Company shall be entitled to enter into a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 with respect to any one or more series of Outstanding Securities without entering into a supplemental indenture with respect to any other series of Outstanding Securities.

 

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 903.                                 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 receive, and (subject to its obligations hereunder) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of, the Company, subject to customary exceptions.  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.

 

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Section 904.                                 Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

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

 

Section 905.                                 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 906.                                 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

Section 907.                                 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

 

After any supplemental indenture under this Article becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the every Holder of a Security a notice briefly describing such supplemental Indenture; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice to every Holder of a Security, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of such supplemental indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has filed such supplemental indenture with the Commission via the Edgar filing system and such supplemental indenture is publicly available, such filing shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Section 907.

 

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001.                           Payment of Principal, 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, whether payable in cash or securities or property, in accordance with the terms thereof and this Indenture.

 

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Section 1002.                           Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series 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 in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such Office or Agency.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other Offices or Agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes.  The Company 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 hereby designates the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities, initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York as the Company’s Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purpose and initially appoints the Trustee as the  Security Registrar for each series of Securities and, if the Securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for securities or property, initially appoints the Trustee as conversion or exchange agent, as the case may be, for the Securities of such series. The Company may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and, as provided in Section 305, may remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar.

 

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

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any 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 in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the principal, any premium, interest and Additional Amounts, as the case may be, 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.

 

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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, or 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 described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts, as the case may be, 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 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.

 

To the extent that the terms of any Securities established pursuant to Section 301 provide that any principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Securities is or may be payable in securities or property, then the provisions of this Section 1003 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such securities or property.

 

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

 

Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or such premium or interest or Additional Amount shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect

 

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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, not later than 30 days after the Company’s request for such repayment, at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of 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 earlier 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.

 

Section 1004.                           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 Securities 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, 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 any 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 Officers’ Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series who are United States Aliens without withholding or deduction for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series.  If any such withholding or deduction shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on or deducted from such payments to such Holders, 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 Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.  Nothing in this Section 1004 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall limit the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to the terms, if any, established pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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Section 1005.                           Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) the corporate existence of the Company, (ii) the existence (corporate or other) of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company and (iii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence (corporate or other) of any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any such right, license or franchise of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries if the Company determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof will not be disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

Section 1006.                           Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Company will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, cause all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company or any Significant Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of their respective properties if such operation or maintenance is, in the judgment of the Company or the board of directors (or equivalent body) of any Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, no longer desirable in the conduct of its business.

 

Section 1007.                           Payment of Taxes and Other Claims .

 

The Company will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon its material property; provided , however , that neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary shall be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such material tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

Section 1008.                           Limitation on Liens .

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness for money borrowed if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien upon any Voting Security owned by the Company or a Subsidiary in any Significant Subsidiary, without equally and ratably securing the Securities of any series by a Lien ranking equally to and ratably with (or, at the Company’s option, senior to) such secured Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness remains outstanding; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

 

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(1)                                   Liens on the Voting Securities of any entity existing at the time it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof);

 

(2)                                   any Lien existing as of the date of this Indenture; and

 

(3)                                   any Lien in favor of the Company.

 

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of any series pursuant to this section shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the corresponding Lien.

 

Section 1009.                           Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in this Article Ten with respect to the Securities of any series and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301(15), any additional covenants applicable to the Securities of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby 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 duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 1010.                           Company Statement as to Compliance .

 

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 Officers’ Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to notice requirements or periods of grace) and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge.

 

Section 1011.                           Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 1012.                           Statement by Officers as to Default .

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an

 

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Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101.                           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 1102.                           Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Company Resolution.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, in the event that the Company shall determine that the Securities of any series to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of such series having the same issue date, interest rate or interest rate formula, Stated Maturity and other terms (the “Equivalent Terms”), the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of such Equivalent Terms.

 

In the case of any redemption of Securities (A) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (B) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 1103.                           Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed .

 

If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent 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 or from the Outstanding Securities of such series with Equivalent Terms, as the case may be, not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem necessary or in accordance with the procedures of the Depository and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Securities of such series; provided, however , that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a 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.

 

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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 or exchanged for securities or property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged 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 1104.                           Notice of Redemption .

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, 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 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 portions thereof.

 

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any 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)           that, in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, 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, together (if applicable) with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon (subject, if applicable, to the provisos to the first paragraph of Section 1106), and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

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(6)           the place or places where such Securities 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)           in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into securities or property, the then current 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, as applicable, and the place or places where and the Persons to whom such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange,

 

(9)           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), and

 

(10)     if the Redemption Price or any portion thereof shall be payable, at the option of the Company or any Holders, in cash or in securities or property (or a combination thereof), a statement as to whether the Company has elected to pay the Redemption Price in cash or securities or property or a combination thereof and, if applicable, the portion of the Redemption Price that is to be paid in cash or securities or property.

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular 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; provided however in the latter case the Trustee will be given at least five days’ advance notice of the requested date of the giving of the notice.

 

Section 1105.                           Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

On or prior to 11:00 a.m. (local time in New York City) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 1104, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the 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 301 for or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 1106.                           Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein

 

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specified, together with (unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 301) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Amounts with respect thereto to but excluding the Redemption Date; provided, however , that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series, installments of interest on 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 307.

 

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 or, if no rate is prescribed therefor in the Security, at the rate of interest, if any, borne by such Security.

 

Section 1107.                           Securities Redeemed in Part .

 

Any 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 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 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.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201.                           Applicability of Article .

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of 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 1202.  Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

 

Section 1202.                           Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

 

The Company 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), 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 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 1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company 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 from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

 

Section 1203.                           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 Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered.  If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.  Not less than 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 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner

 

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provided in Section 1104.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 1301.                           Applicability of Article .

 

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 309, 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 1301, 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 applicable 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.

 

Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Indenture or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Indenture to the repayment of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to include a reference to the repurchase of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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

 

 

GFI GROUP INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James A. Peers

 

 

Name:

James A. Peers

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 



 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N. A.,

 

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Christopher Howe

 

 

Name: J. Christopher Howe

 

 

Title: Senior Associate

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

REGULATION S CERTIFICATE

 

(For transfers pursuant to Sections
305(b)(iii), (v) and (vii) of the Indenture)

 

To:                               The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee

 

Re:                                GFI Group Inc. –                                  (the “ Securities ”)

 

Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2011  (the “ Indenture ”), among GFI Group Inc. (the “ Company ”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee.  Terms used herein and defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) are used herein as so defined.

 

This certificate relates to U.S.$                 principal amount of Securities, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the “ Specified Securities ”):

 

CUSIP No(s).

 

CERTIFICATE No(s).

 

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the “ undersigned ”) hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so.  Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the “ Owner ”.  If the Specified Securities are represented by a global Security, they are held through the Depository or an Agent Member in the name of the undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.  If the Specified Securities are not represented by a global Security, they are registered in the name of the undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

 

The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be transferred to a person (the “ Transferee ”) who will take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Security.  In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 or Rule 144 under the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.  Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies as follows:

 

1.                Rule 903 or 904 Transfers .  If the transfer is being effected in accordance with Rule 903 or 904:

 

a.                the Owner is not a distributor of the Securities, an affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor or of any such distributor or a person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing;

 



 

b.               the offer of the Specified Securities was not made to a person in the United States;

 

c.                either:

 

i.       at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or the Owner and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believed that the Transferee was outside the United States, or

 

ii.    the transaction is being executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market (as defined in Regulation S) and neither the Owner nor any person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

 

d.               no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States by or on behalf of the Owner or any affiliate thereof;

 

e.                if the Owner is a dealer in Securities or has received a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the Specified Securities, and the transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period, then the requirements of Rule 904(b)(1) have been satisfied; and

 

f.                  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

2.                Rule 144 Transfers .  If the transfer is being effected pursuant to Rule 144:

 

a.                the transfer is occurring after                   , 20        and is being effected in accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice requirements of Rule 144; or

 

b.               the transfer is occurring after                     , 20        and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months has not been, an affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor.

 

2



 

EXHIBIT B

 

RULE 144A CERTIFICATE

 

(For transfers pursuant to Sections
305(2)(d), (e), (f) and (g) of the Indenture)

 

To:                               The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee

 

Re:                                GFI Group Inc. –                                  (the “ Securities ”)

 

Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2011 (the “ Indenture ”), among GFI Group Inc. (the “ Company ”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee.  Terms used herein and defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S or Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) are used herein as so defined.

 

This certificate relates to U.S.$                 principal amount of Securities, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the “ Specified Securities ”):

 

CUSIP No(s).

 

CERTIFICATE No(s).

 

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the “ undersigned ”) hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so.  Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the “ Owner ”.  If the Specified Securities are represented by a global Security, they are held through the Depository or an Agent Member in the name of the undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.  If the Specified Securities are not represented by a global Security, they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

 

The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be transferred to a person (the “ Transferee ”) who will take delivery in the form of a Rule 144A Security.  In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A or Rule 144 under the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.  Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies as:

 

1.                                        Rule 144A Transfers .  If the transfer is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A:

 

(a)                                   the Specified Securities are being transferred to a person that the Owner and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, acquiring for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer; and

 



 

(b)                                  the Owner and any person acting on its behalf have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the Transferee is aware that the Owner is relying on Rule 144A in connection with the transfer; and

 

2.                                        Rule 144 Transfers .  If the transfer is being effected pursuant to Rule 144:

 

(a)                                   the transfer is occurring after                   , 20        and is being effected in accordance with the applicable amount, manner of sale and notice requirements of Rule 144; or

 

(b)                                  the transfer is occurring after                   , 20        and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months has not been, an affiliate of the Company.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and the Guarantor.

 

Dated:

 

 

(Print the name of the undersigned, as such term is defined in the second paragraph of this certificate)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

(If the undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of the undersigned must be stated)

 


Exhibit 4.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


by and among

 


GFI Group Inc.

 

and

 


Jefferies & Company, Inc.

 

Dated as of July 19, 2011

 



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 19, 2011, by and among GFI Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Jefferies & Company, Inc., as initial purchaser (the “Initial Purchaser”), who has agreed to purchase the Company’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Securities”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated July 14, 2011(the “Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the Initial Purchaser (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined below), including the Initial Purchaser.  In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Securities, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.             Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest: As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Additional Interest Payment Date:  With respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities, each Interest Payment Date.

 

Advice: As defined in the last paragraph of Section 6(c) hereof.

 

Broker-Dealer:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day:   Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

 

Closing Date:  The date of this Agreement.

 

Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate:  A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) such Registration Statement being continuously effective and the Exchange Offer being open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate

 

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principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Date:  As defined in Section 3(a) hereto.

 

Exchange Offer:  The registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement:  The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

 

Exchange Securities:  The 8.375% Senior  Notes due 2018, of the same series under the Indenture as the Transfer Restricted Securities, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

FINRA:  Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Freely Tradable:  Means, with respect to a Security, a Security that at any time of determination (i) may be sold to the public in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) by a person that is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company where no conditions of Rule 144 are then applicable (other than the holding period requirement in paragraph (d) of Rule 144 so long as such holding period requirement is satisfied at such time of determination) and (ii) does not bear any restrictive legends relating to the Securities Act.

 

Holders:  As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Indemnified Holder:  As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

Indenture:  The Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2011, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Initial Purchaser:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Placement:  The issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Interest Payment Date:  As defined in the Indenture and the Securities.

 

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Participating Broker-Dealer: As defined in Section 3(c) hereof.

 

Person:  An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectus:  The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

Registration Default:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Registration Statement:  Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Securities:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities:  The Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such Securities cease to be outstanding or (iii) the date on which such Securities are Freely Tradable.

 

Trust Indenture Act:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering:  A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

SECTION 2.             Securities Subject to this Agreement .

 

(a)           Transfer Restricted Securities .  The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities .

 

(b)           Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities .  A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

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SECTION 3.             Registered Exchange Offer .

 

(a)           Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), or there are no Transfer Restricted Securities outstanding, the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date (or if such 180 th  day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 270 days after the Closing Date (or if such 270 th  day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits or to taxation other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject, and (iv) as soon as practicable after the declaration of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer not later than 300 days following the Closing Date (or if such 300th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) (the “Exchange Date”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to Consummate such Exchange Offer if all of the Securities are Freely Tradable on or before the Exchange Date.  The Exchange Offer, if required pursuant to this Section 3(a), shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Transfer Restricted Securities held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.

 

(b)           If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required to be filed and declared effective pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the Company shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 30 days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders.  The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws.  No securities other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated by the Exchange Date; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to Consummate the Exchange Offer if all of the Securities are Freely Tradable on or before the Exchange Date.

 

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(c)           The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company)(each a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Participating Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by such Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Participating Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Participating Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Participating Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Participating Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

 

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Transfer Restricted Securities acquired by Participating Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.

 

The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Participating Broker-Dealers promptly upon written request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the contrary, the requirements to file and the requirements to Consummate the Exchange Offer shall terminate at such time as all the Securities are Freely Tradable.

 

SECTION 4.             Shelf Registration .

 

(a)           Shelf Registration .  If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated by the Exchange Date and the Securities are not all Freely Tradable prior to such time, or (iii) prior to the Exchange Date:  (A) the Initial Purchaser request in writing from the

 

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Company with respect to Transfer Restricted Securities not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, (B) with respect to any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities such Holder notifies the Company in writing that (i) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (ii) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (iii) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates or (C) in the case of any Initial Purchaser, such Initial Purchaser notifies the Company in writing it will not receive Freely Tradable Exchange Securities in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities constituting any portion of such Initial Purchaser’s unsold allotment, the Company shall

 

(x)            cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) as soon as practicable after the date such obligation arises but in no event later than the later of (i) 180 days following the Closing Date (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) and (ii) 90 days after such filing obligation arises (of if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities, the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

 

(y)           use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 180th day after such filing obligation arises (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

 

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders of such Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, from the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission until the expiration of the one-year period referred to in Rule 144 applicable to securities held by non-affiliates under the Securities Act (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or are Freely Tradable); provided that the Company may for a period of up to 60 days in any three-month period, not to exceed 90 days in any calendar year, determine that the Shelf Registration Statement is not usable under certain circumstances relating to corporate developments, public filings with the Commission and similar events, and suspend the use of the prospectus that is part of the Shelf Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the requirements to file a Shelf

 

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Registration Statement and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective and remain effective shall terminate at such time as all of the Securities are Freely Tradable.

 

(b)           Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement .  No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein.  Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

SECTION 5.           Additional Interest .  If any of the Securities are not Freely Tradable Securities by the Exchange Date and either (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated by the Exchange Date, (iii) any Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has not been declared effective by the Commission in accordance with the requirements in Section 4(a) or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared or automatically becomes effective but ceases to be effective at any time at which it is required to be effective under this Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Transfer Restricted Securities shall be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period (such increase, “Additional Interest”), but in no event shall such increase exceed 1.00% per annum.  At the earlier of (i) the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to the particular Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) the particular Transfer Restricted Securities having become Freely Tradable, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.

 

SECTION 6.             Registration Procedures .

 

(a)           Exchange Offer Registration Statement .  In connection with the Exchange Offer, if required pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended

 

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method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply in all material respects with the following provisions:

 

(i)      If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities.  The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Company hereby agrees, however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.

 

(ii)     As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business.  In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer.  Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Participating Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.

 

(b)           Shelf Registration Statement .  If required pursuant to Section 4, in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended

 

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method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as is commercially reasonable prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

 

(c)           General Provisions .  In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:

 

(i)            use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

 

(ii)     prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are Freely Tradable; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(iii)    advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the

 

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Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, or (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Company  shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv)    furnish, or cause to be furnished,  without charge to the Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement, and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which the Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within three Business Days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of facsimile transmission within such period).  The objection of the Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;

 

(v)         promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company’s representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;

 

(vi)        make available at reasonable times for inspection by the managing underwriter(s), if any, participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information

 

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reasonably requested by any such underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and to participate in meetings with investors to the extent requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any;

 

(vii)           if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(viii)          cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any;

 

(ix)        furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference), which requirements shall be deemed satisfied through the filing with the Commission on EDGAR;

 

(x)         deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus and Free Writing Prospectus, if any) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(xi)        in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements (including in the case of an Underwritten Registration, an underwriting agreement in the form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Registrations of debt securities similar to the Transfer Restricted Securities), and take all such other actions in connection therewith as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Transfer Restricted Securities as may be appropriate in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any

 

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Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Initial Purchaser (if it is a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities) or by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities or any managing underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall:

 

(A)          make such representations and warranties to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope, covering the matters set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement;

 

(B)           use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the Initial Purchaser (if it is a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities), each selling Holder and any managing underwriter:

 

(1)           a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed by (y) the President or any Vice President and (z) a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, covering the matters customarily covered in such certificates in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Transfer Restricted Securities and as otherwise may be appropriate under the circumstances;

 

(2)           an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser (if it is a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities), each selling Holder and any managing underwriter, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions of counsel to the Company in Underwritten Offerings of debt securities similar to the Transfer Restricted Securities and as otherwise may be appropriate under the circumstances, including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, representatives of the underwriter(s), if any, and counsel to the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, at the time such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment

 

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thereto became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Shelf Registration Statement as of its date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading ( provided, however , that such opinion shall only be requested in Underwritten Registrations); without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial data included in any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and

 

(3)           in an Underwritten Offering or if the Initial Purchaser is a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Transfer Restricted Securities;

 

(C)           set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(D)          deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested in writing by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this Section 6(c)(xi), if any.

 

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the Initial Purchaser and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

 

(xii)           prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation

 

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where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(xiii)          issue, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Securities, as the case may be; in return, the Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;

 

(xvi)          cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such Holders or underwriter(s);

 

(xv)           use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in Section 6(c)(xii) hereof;

 

(xvi)          if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(xvii)         provide a CUSIP number for all Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement covering such Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for such Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and take all other action necessary to ensure that all such Securities are eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;

 

(xviii)        cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the FINRA;

 

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(xix)           otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Securities Act (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;

 

(xx)            cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Securities to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and to execute and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and

 

(xxi)           provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act, which requirement shall be deemed satisfied upon filing with the Commission on EDGAR.

 

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.  If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall not be excluded from the determination of a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.

 

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SECTION 7.             Registration Expenses .

 

(a)           All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by the Initial Purchaser or Holder with the FINRA (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of the FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities or blue sky laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

 

The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

 

(b)           In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.

 

SECTION 8.             Indemnification .

 

(a)           The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “controlling person”) and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an “Indemnified Holder”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including, without limitation, and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by

 

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any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder), joint or several, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein.  This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.  Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).  The Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Holders.  The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.

 

(b)           Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers of the Company who sign a Registration Statement, and any Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such Person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing

 

17



 

by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement.  In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company, and the Company, its directors and officers and such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph.

 

(c)           If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Company, shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds to the Company from the Initial Placement) and such Registration Statement (which in the case of the Company, shall be deemed to be equal to the amount of Additional Interest that did not become payable as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments actions or expenses), or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Indemnified Holders, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

 

The Company and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities exceeds the amount of

 

18



 

any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.

 

SECTION 9.             Rule 144A .

 

The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

SECTION 10.           Participation in Underwritten Registrations .

 

No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

SECTION 11.           Selection of Underwriters .

 

The Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering.  In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) that will administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided, however, that such investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

SECTION 12.           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Remedies .  The Company hereby agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)           No Inconsistent Agreements .  The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not

 

19



 

inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c)           Adjustments Affecting the Securities .  The Company will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.

 

(d)           Amendments and Waivers .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding any Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided, however, that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.

 

(e)           Notices .  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, facsimile, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i)      if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

(ii)     if to the Company:

 

GFI Group Inc.

55 Water Street

New York, New York 10041

Facsimile No.: (212) 986-2965

Attention: Scott Pintoff, Esq.

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile No.: (212)728-9214

Attention: Cristopher Greer, Esq.

 

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All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(f)            Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.

 

(g)           Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)           Headings .  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i)            Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

 

(j)            Severability .  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(k)           Entire Agreement .  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

GFI GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 By:

/s/ James A. Peers

 

 

Name:

James A. Peers

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

[Registration Rights Agreement]

 



 

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

 

as the Initial Purchaser

 

 

 

By: Jefferies & Company, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Matthew Casey

 

Name:

Matthew Casey

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

[Registration Rights Agreement]