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California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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6282
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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68-0176227
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
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Peter D. Fetzer
Jason M. Hille Foley & Lardner LLP 777 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (414) 271-2400 |
| |
William J. Tuttle
Erin M. Lett Proskauer Rose LLP 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW Suite 600 South Washington, DC 20004 (202) 416-6800 |
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Large accelerated filer
☐
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Accelerated filer
☐
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Non-accelerated filer
☒
|
| |
Smaller reporting company
☒
|
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| | | |
Emerging growth company
☐
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Per Note
|
| |
Total
|
| ||||||
Public Offering Price | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||
Underwriting Discount and Commissions (sales load) | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||
Proceeds to us, before expenses(1) | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |
| Oppenheimer & Co. | | |
Janney Montgomery Scott
|
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Page
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FUND KEY
|
| |||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Symbol
|
| |
Name
|
| |
Symbol
|
|
| Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Fund | | |
HFCGX
|
| | Hennessy BP Energy Transition Fund | | |
HNRGX
|
|
| Hennessy Focus Fund | | |
HFCSX
|
| | Hennessy BP Midstream Fund | | |
HMSFX
|
|
| Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund | | |
HFMDX
|
| | Hennessy Gas Utility Fund | | |
GASFX
|
|
| Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund | | |
HFLGX
|
| | Hennessy Japan Fund | | |
HJPNX
|
|
| Hennessy Cornerstone Value Fund | | |
HFCVX
|
| | Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund | | |
HJPSX
|
|
| Hennessy Total Return Fund | | |
HDOGX
|
| | Hennessy Small Cap Financial Fund | | |
HSFNX
|
|
| Hennessy Equity and Income Fund | | |
HEIFX
|
| | Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund | | |
HLFNX
|
|
| Hennessy Balance Fund | | |
HBFBX
|
| | Hennessy Technology Fund | | |
HTECX
|
|
| |
Hennessy Funds
|
| | ||||||||||||
| |
Fund Returns* for the Period Ending August 31, 2021
|
| | ||||||||||||
| |
Fund
|
| |
One-
Month |
| |
Year-to-
Date |
| | ||||||
| |
Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Fund
|
| | | | 2.39% | | | | | | 21.92% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Focus Fund
|
| | | | 2.27% | | | | | | 26.77% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund
|
| | | | -0.05% | | | | | | 27.17% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund
|
| | | | 1.77% | | | | | | 29.34% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Cornerstone Value Fund
|
| | | | 1.16% | | | | | | 21.15% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Total Return Fund
|
| | | | 0.81% | | | | | | 10.39% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund
|
| | | | 1.05% | | | | | | 12.20% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Balanced Fund
|
| | | | 0.64% | | | | | | 7.44% | | | |
| |
Hennessy BP Energy Transition Fund
|
| | | | -1.97% | | | | | | 31.19% | | | |
| |
Hennessy BP Midstream Fund
|
| | | | -1.81% | | | | | | 30.95% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Gas Utility Fund
|
| | | | 1.04% | | | | | | 13.26% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Japan Fund
|
| | | | 4.70% | | | | | | -1.04% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund
|
| | | | -0.66% | | | | | | -0.39% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund
|
| | | | 4.09% | | | | | | 23.21% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Small Cap Financial Fund
|
| | | | 6.27% | | | | | | 34.26% | | | |
| |
Hennessy Technology Fund
|
| | | | 1.62% | | | | | | 16.86% | | | |
|
The Hennessy Funds Family
|
| ||||||
|
Domestic Equity
|
| |
Multi-Asset
|
| |
Sector and Specialty
|
|
|
Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Fund
|
| | Hennessy Total Return Fund | | |
Hennessy BP Energy Transition Fund
|
|
|
Hennessy Focus Fund
|
| |
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund
|
| | Hennessy BP Midstream Fund | |
|
Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund
|
| | Hennessy Balanced Fund | | | Hennessy Gas Utility Fund | |
|
Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund
|
| | | | | Hennessy Japan Fund | |
|
Hennessy Cornerstone Value Fund
|
| | | | | Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund | |
| | | | | | |
Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund
|
|
| | | | | | |
Hennessy Small Cap Financial Fund
|
|
| | | | | | | Hennessy Technology Fund | |
| | |
Nine months
ended June 30, 2021 |
| |
Nine months
ended June 30, 2020 |
| |
For the year
ended September 30, 2020 |
| |
For the year
ended September 30, 2019 |
| ||||||||||||
| | |
(in thousands)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees
|
| | | $ | 22,458 | | | | | $ | 24,016 | | | | | $ | 30,831 | | | | | $ | 39,357 | | |
Shareholder service fees
|
| | | | 1,792 | | | | | | 2,002 | | | | | | 2,558 | | | | | | 3,358 | | |
Other
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenue
|
| | | | 24,250 | | | | | | 26,018 | | | | | | 33,389 | | | | | | 42,715 | | |
Operating expenses
|
| | | | 16,242 | | | | | | 17,011 | | | | | | 22,070 | | | | | | 26,694 | | |
Operating income
|
| | | | 8,008 | | | | | | 9,007 | | | | | | 11,319 | | | | | | 16,021 | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | – | | | | | | 447 | | | | | | 447 | | | | | | 1,084 | | |
Income before income tax expense
|
| | | | 8,010 | | | | | | 8,649 | | | | | | 10,691 | | | | | | 15,275 | | |
Income tax expense
|
| | | | 2,107 | | | | | | 2,276 | | | | | | 3,120 | | | | | | 4,244 | | |
Net income
|
| | | | 5,903 | | | | | | 6,373 | | | | | | 7,841 | | | | | | 11,031 | | |
| | |
June 30
|
| |
September 30
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
2021
|
| |
2020
|
| |
2020
|
| |
2019
|
| ||||||||||||
| | |
(in thousands)
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 99,803 | | | | | $ | 93,310 | | | | | $ | 94,786 | | | | | $ | 110,208 | | |
Short-term obligations
|
| | | | 4,482 | | | | | | 4,469 | | | | | | 5,092 | | | | | | 11,363 | | |
Long-term debt
|
| | | | – | | | | | | – | | | | | | – | | | | | | 13,048 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 17,617 | | | | | | 15,745 | | | | | | 16,608 | | | | | | 34,680 | | |
Total shareholders’ equity
|
| | | | 82,186 | | | | | | 77,565 | | | | | | 78,178 | | | | | | 75,528 | | |
Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Assets Under Management
|
| | | $ | 4,151,415 | | | | | $ | 3,448,809 | | | | | $ | 4,098,404 | | | | | $ | 5,184,742 | | |
Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share amounts)
|
| |
Actual as of
June 30, 2021 |
| |
As Adjusted(1)
|
| ||||||
| | |
(Unaudited)
|
| | | | | | | |||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
| | | $ | 14,038 | | | | | $ | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Notes offered hereby
|
| | | | – | | | | | | | | |
Common stock, no par value, 22,500,000 shares authorized; 7,366,649 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021
|
| | | | 19,846 | | | | | | | | |
Retained earnings
|
| | | | 62,340 | | | | | | | | |
Total stockholders’ equity
|
| | | | 82,186 | | | | | | | | |
Total capitalization
|
| | | $ | 82,186 | | | | | $ | | | |
Name
|
| |
Number of
Shares Owned |
| |
Percent
of Class |
| |
Additional Information
|
| ||||||
Neil J. Hennessy
|
| | | | 2,086,758 | | | | | | 28.23% | | | | Includes (A) 2,020,946 shares held jointly with his spouse, over which Mr. Hennessy has shared voting and dispositive power, and (B) 25,312 shares held solely by his spouse. | |
Teresa M. Nilsen
|
| | | | 140,477 | | | | | | 1.9% | | | |
Includes (A) 86,236 shares held jointly
with her spouse, over which Ms. Nilsen has shared voting and dispositive power, (B) 17,285 shares held by Ms. Nilsen and by her spouse as custodian for their children, over which Ms. Nilsen has shared voting and dispositive power, and (C) 1,518 shares held solely by her spouse. |
|
Daniel B. Steadman
|
| | | | 57,121 | | | | | | * | | | |
Includes (A) 34,683 shares held jointly
with his spouse, over which Mr. Steadman has shared voting and dispositive power, and (B) 750 shares held solely by his child. |
|
Henry Hansel
|
| | | | 187,763 | | | | | | 2.5% | | | | None. | |
Brian A. Hennessy
|
| | | | 291,126 | | | | | | 3.9% | | | | Includes (A) 254,004 shares held jointly with his spouse, over which Mr. Hennessy has shared voting and dispositive power, and (B) 12,655 shares held solely by his spouse. | |
Daniel G. Libarle
|
| | | | 101,058 | | | | | | 1.4% | | | |
Includes 89,246 shares held jointly with
his spouse, over which Mr. Libarle has shared voting and dispositive power. |
|
Rodger Offenbach
|
| | | | 124,710 | | | | | | 1.7% | | | |
Includes (A) 97,626 shares held jointly
with his spouse, over which Mr. Offenbach has shared voting and dispositive power, and (B) 6,370 shares held solely by his spouse. |
|
Name
|
| |
Number of
Shares Owned |
| |
Percent
of Class |
| |
Additional Information
|
| ||||||
Susan W. Pomilia
|
| | | | 110,156 | | | | | | 1.5% | | | |
Includes (A) 33,000 shares held jointly
with her spouse, over which Ms. Pomilia has shared voting and dispositive power, and (B) 65,344 shares held solely by her spouse. |
|
Thomas L. Seavey
|
| | | | 69,478 | | | | | | * | | | | None. | |
Kathryn R. Fahy
|
| | | | 53,907 | | | | | | * | | | | Includes 16,805 shares held solely by the estate of her late spouse. | |
Eden Capital Management, LLC(1)
|
| | | | 527,394 | | | | | | 7.1% | | | | Includes 527,394 shares with shared voting and dispositive power, and 120,000 shares with sole voting and dispositive power. | |
All directors and executive officers (10 individuals)
|
| | | | 3,222,554 | | | | | | 43.6% | | | | None. | |
Underwriters
|
| |
Principal Amount
of Notes |
| |||
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
|
| | | $ | | | |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
|
| | | | | | |
Total
|
| | | $ | 35,000,000 | | |
| | |
Per Note
|
| |
Without Over-
Allotment Option |
| |
With Over-
Allotment Option |
| |||||||||
Public offering price
|
| | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||
Underwriting discounts and commissions ( % of public offering price)
|
| | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||
Proceeds (before expenses)
|
| | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |
Item
|
| |
Amount
|
| |||
Registration Fee Under the Securities Act of 1933
|
| | | $ | 4,400 | | |
Printing Fees and Expenses
|
| | | $ | 60,000 | | |
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
| | | $ | 350,000 | | |
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
| | | $ | 60,000 | | |
Trustee Fees and Expenses
|
| | | $ | 15,000 | | |
Ratings Agency Fees and Expenses
|
| | | $ | 50,000 | | |
Miscellaneous Expenses
|
| | | $ | 20,000 | | |
Total | | | | $ | 559,400 | | |
|
NAME
|
| |
DATE
|
|
|
*
Neil J. Hennessy
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Teresa M. Nilsen
President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director (As a duly authorized officer on behalf of the Registrant and Principal Executive Officer) |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Kathryn R. Fahy
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Daniel B. Steadman
Executive Vice President and Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Henry Hansel
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Brian A. Hennessy
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
NAME
|
| |
DATE
|
|
|
*
Daniel G. Libarle
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Rodger Offenbach
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Susan W. Pomilia
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*
Thomas L. Seavey
Director |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
|
*By:
/s/ Teresa M. Nilsen
Teresa M. Nilsen,
Power of Attorney |
| |
October 12, 2021
|
|
Exhibit 1.1
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.
$[●] [●]% Notes Due 2026
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
October [●], 2021
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
As representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
c/o |
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Hennessy Advisors, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), confirms with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”) and each of the other underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as provided in Section 9 hereof), for whom Oppenheimer is acting as the representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”) with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of $[●] aggregate principal amount (the “Initial Securities”) of the Company’s [●]% Notes due 2026, and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters of the option described in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any part of an additional $[●] aggregate principal amount (the “Option Securities”) of the Company’s [●]% Notes due 2026 solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Option Securities are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”
The Securities will be issued under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to be dated the Closing Date, between the Company and the Trustee. The Securities will be issued as fully registered securities to Cede & Co. (or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)), as nominee of DTC, pursuant to a blanket letter of representations, dated [●], 2021 (the “DTC Agreement”), between the Company and DTC.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-259750), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. The registration statement, as amended at the time it was declared effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement;” the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, together with the pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus, as of its date, does not contain and at the Closing Date, as then amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (vi) of this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein and in conformity therewith.
(c) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representative before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the Representative’s prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
(d) The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and the changes in its cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent in all material respects with that of the audited financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Any “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Commission) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K, to the extent applicable.
(e) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). The Company does not have any direct or indirect subsidiaries.
(f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(g) The outstanding shares of common stock of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(h) Each of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, and at the Closing Date, will be executed and delivered by the Company and when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law) (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
(i) The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(j) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company for sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and of the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture relating thereto. The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(k) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
(l) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture by the Company will not contravene (i) any provision of applicable law or (ii) the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company or (iii) any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party that is material to the Company or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company, except in the case of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) above, for any contravention that would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities, except (i) such as may have previously been obtained, and (ii) such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or foreign jurisdictions, the rules and regulations of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and the approval for the listing of the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market, each in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.
(m) The Company is not (i) in violation of its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject or (iii) in violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any judgment, order, rule, or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(o) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing to which the Company is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus and proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents to which the Company is subject or by which the Company is bound that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
(p) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(q) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(r) The Company (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(u) Neither the Company, nor any director or officer, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company, has, in the case of its actions for on behalf of the Company, taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage that would constitute a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any other anti-corruption laws; and the Company and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
(v) The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, and any applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(w) (i) Neither the Company, nor any director or officer thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria) in violation of any such Sanctions.
(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions in violation of any such Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) For the past five years, the Company has not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions in violation of any such Sanctions.
(x) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.
(y) The Company does not own any real property. The Company has good and marketable title to all personal property owned by it which is material to the business of the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company that are material to the business of the Company are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(z) The Company owns or possesses or is licensed to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, and the Company has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(bb) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are reasonable and customary in the business in which it is engaged; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(cc) The Company possesses all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business, except where such failure to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except, in each case, as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(dd) The Company is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Advisers Act”) and is in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Advisers Act. To the extent required, the Company is registered, licensed or qualified as a broker-dealer or as a commodity trading advisor, a commodity pool operator or a futures commission merchant or any or all of the foregoing, as applicable, and is so registered, licensed and is in compliance with all applicable laws requiring any such registration, licensing or qualification, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or where the failure to be so registered, licensed, qualified or in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Each of the investment advisory agreements to which the Company is a party is a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto and in compliance with the Advisers Act, except for any failure or failures to be valid, binding or in compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; none of the Company or its affiliates is in breach or violation of or in default under any such agreement, except which breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending or threatened termination of any such agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, since September 30, 2020, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(gg) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company has (x) paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and any and all assessments, fines, interest, fees and penalties with respect thereto (“Taxes”), in each case required to be paid by them through the date hereof except for Taxes being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company, and (y) filed all federal, state, local, and foreign Tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, (ii) there is no Tax deficiency that has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its properties or assets and (iii) there are no Tax audits or investigations currently ongoing, of which the Company has written notice or knowledge.
(hh) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk status” (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in “endangered status” or “critical status” (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA) (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vi) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; (vii) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (viii) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its Controlled Group affiliates in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Controlled Group affiliates compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s and its Controlled Group affiliates’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the Company’s “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (viii) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The Company has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications and has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors of this offering undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(jj) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(kk) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the captions “Corporate Governance—Related Party Transactions” and “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws, legal conclusions with respect thereto and documents referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects.
(ll) The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
(mm) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(nn) The Company has not performed any act or otherwise engaged in any conduct that would prevent the Company from benefiting from any exculpation clause or other limitation of liability available to it under the terms of any investment management agreement or advisory agreement to which it is party.
(oo) Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data and information regarding the funds managed or advised by the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(pp) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(qq) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company’s information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with its business, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company is presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriters the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereto, plus any additional amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities, in each case at a purchase price of [97]% of such aggregate principal amount (the “Purchase Price”).
In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional $[●] aggregate principal amount of Securities at a price equal to the Purchase Price (without giving effect to any accrued interest from the Closing Date to the applicable Option Closing Date). The option granted by this Section 2 may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Initial Securities by the Underwriters. The option hereby granted will expire at 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the 30th day after the date hereof and may be exercised on up to three occasions in whole or in part only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an “Option Closing Date”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be earlier than three or later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, the Company will sell to the Underwriters that proportion of the total aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, which the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, bears to the total aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities.
3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Initial Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available against delivery of such Initial Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on [●], 2021, or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Payment for any Option Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available against delivery of such Option Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing
The Initial Securities and Option Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representative shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Initial Securities and Option Securities shall be delivered to the Representative on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
4. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Securities to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the Representative’s judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 4(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Foley & Lardner LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Marcum LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to the date hereof.
(f) On the Closing Date, the Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Securities.
(g) The application for listing of the Securities shall have been submitted to the Nasdaq Global Market prior to the Closing Date.
(h) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Option Securities hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representative on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:
(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;
(ii) an opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 4(c) hereof;
(iii) an opinion of Proskauer Rose, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 4(d) hereof;
(iv) a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Marcum LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 4(e) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than two business days prior to such Option Closing Date; and
(v) such other documents as the Representative may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Option Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Option Securities.
(i) The Underwriters shall have received on each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date, if any, such further certificates and documents, dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, covering such matters as the Representative may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Representative.
5. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, written and electronic copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter in such quantities as they may reasonably request and to furnish to the Representative in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 5(e) or 5(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as they may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) To furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representative reasonably objects.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities,in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is, in the judgement of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representative will furnish to the Company) to which the Securities may have been sold by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request.
(h) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by FINRA, (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Securities and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Securities, (vii) the costs and charges of any trustee, transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show (with the remaining 50% of the cost of such aircraft to be paid by the Underwriters), (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, and (x) all other costs and expenses incurred by the Company and that are incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. In the case of clauses (iii) and (iv), the aggregate amount of such fees and disbursements of counsel to be paid shall not exceed $7,500 (excluding any filing fees). It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 7 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 7 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(j) The Company will cooperate with the Representative and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the offered Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(k) The Company will use reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market within 30 days of the Closing Date.
(l) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.
(m) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(n) If requested, the Company will deliver to the Representative, on the date hereof, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representative, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Representative may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing certification.
6. Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The statements set forth in the first three sentences of the first paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Commissions and Expenses” in the Prospectus and the first sentence of the first paragraph and the first sentence under the caption “Underwriting—Stabilization” in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters.
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel selected by the indemnifying party and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand 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 or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the respective number of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 7(d) 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 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter 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 remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.
8. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representative to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
9. Defaulting Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall use reasonable best efforts, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date which occurs after the Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities that were to have been purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 9 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of an Option Closing Date which is after the Closing Date, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9.
10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.
11. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which an Underwriter may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters), and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
14. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Representative at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, Attention: JD Nelson, with a copy to Proskauer Rose LLP, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 600 South, Washington, DC 20004, attention of William J. Tuttle; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Company at the address set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: President; with a copy to Foley & Lardner LLP, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, attention of Peter D. Fetzer and Jason M. Hille.
16. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 16:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. Sec. 1841.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Secs. 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC. |
||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Accepted as of the date hereof
OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.
|
|
Acting on behalf of itself and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. | |
By: | OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC. |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
Name of Underwriter |
Aggregate Principal
Amount of Initial Securities |
||
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. | $ | [ ] | |
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC | [ ] | ||
[ ] | [ ] | ||
[ ] | [ ] | ||
[ ] | [ ] | ||
[ ] | [ ] | ||
[ ] | [ ] | ||
Total: | $ | [ ] |
I-1
SCHEDULE II
PRICE-RELATED INFORMATION
Aggregate Principal Amount of Initial Securities | $ | [ ] | ||
Aggregate Principal Amount of Option Securities | $ | [ ] | ||
Public Offering Price | 100.0 | % | ||
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions | 3.0 | % | ||
Proceeds to the Company, Before Expenses | $ | [ ] | ||
Pricing Date | [ ], 2021 | |||
Closing Date (T+[5]) | [ ], 2021 | |||
Interest Rate | [ ] | % | ||
No Call Period | Closing date to [ ], 2023 | |||
Stated Maturity | [ ], 2026 |
II-1
Exhibit 4.1
INDENTURE
Dated as of [_________], 2021
between
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Page
Parties | 1 | |
Recitals | 1 | |
Article 1. Definitions | 1 | |
Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 |
Article 2. Debt Security Forms | 9 | |
Section 2.01. | Forms Generally | 9 |
Section 2.02. | Forms of Debt Securities | 9 |
Section 2.03. | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 10 |
Section 2.04. | Debt Securities in Global Form | 10 |
Article 3. The Debt Securities | 13 | |
Section 3.01. | Title and Terms | 13 |
Section 3.02. | Denominations | 14 |
Section 3.03. | Payment of Principal and Interest | 14 |
Section 3.04. | Execution of Debt Securities | 15 |
Section 3.05. | Temporary Debt Securities | 16 |
Section 3.06. | Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities | 17 |
Section 3.07. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities | 18 |
Section 3.08. | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 19 |
Section 3.09. | Persons Deemed Owners | 20 |
Section 3.10. | Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc. | 20 |
Section 3.11. | Currency and Manner of Payments | 21 |
Article 4. Redemption of Debt Securities; Sinking Funds | 22 | |
Section 4.01. | Applicability of Article | 22 |
Section 4.02. | Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities | 23 |
Section 4.03. | Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption | 24 |
Section 4.04. | Exclusion of Certain Debt Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption | 24 |
Section 4.05. | Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds | 25 |
Article 5. Particular Covenants of the Company | 26 | |
Section 5.01. | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 26 |
Section 5.02. | Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. | 26 |
Section 5.03. | Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office | 27 |
Section 5.04. | Provisions as to Paying Agent | 27 |
Section 5.05. | Certificate to Trustee | 28 |
* This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
i
Section 5.06. | Waivers of Covenants | 28 |
Article 6. Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Company and the Trustee | 28 | |
Section 6.01. | Holders’ Lists | 28 |
Section 6.02. | Preservation and Disclosure of Lists | 29 |
Section 6.03. | Reports by the Company | 29 |
Section 6.04. | Reports by the Trustee | 29 |
Article 7. Remedies of the Trustee and Holders on Event of Default | 30 | |
Section 7.01. | Events of Default | 30 |
Section 7.02. | Payment of Debt Securities Upon Default; Suit Therefor | 32 |
Section 7.03. | Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee | 34 |
Section 7.04. | Proceedings by Holders | 35 |
Section 7.05. | Proceedings by Trustee | 35 |
Section 7.06. | Remedies Cumulative and Continuing | 35 |
Section 7.07. | Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders | 36 |
Section 7.08. | Notice of Defaults | 36 |
Section 7.09. | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 37 |
Section 7.10. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest | 37 |
Article 8. Concerning the Trustee | 37 | |
Section 8.01. | Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 37 |
Section 8.02. | Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. | 38 |
Section 8.03. | No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. | 40 |
Section 8.04. | Trustee and Agents May Own Debt Securities | 40 |
Section 8.05. | Moneys to be Held in Trust | 40 |
Section 8.06. | Compensation and Expenses of Trustee | 40 |
Section 8.07. | Officers’ Certificate as Evidence | 41 |
Section 8.08. | Conflicting Interest of Trustee | 41 |
Section 8.09. | Eligibility of Trustee | 41 |
Section 8.10. | Resignation or Removal of Trustee | 42 |
Section 8.11. | Acceptance by Successor Trustee | 43 |
Section 8.12. | Succession by Merger, etc. | 44 |
Section 8.13. | Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor | 44 |
Section 8.14. | Authenticating Agents | 44 |
Section 8.15. | Trustee's Application for Instructions from the Company | 47 |
Article 9. Concerning the Holders | 47 | |
Section 9.01. | Action by Holders | 47 |
Section 9.02. | Proof of Execution by Holders | 47 |
Section 9.03. | Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners | 48 |
Section 9.04. | Company-Owned Debt Securities Disregarded | 48 |
Section 9.05. | Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound | 48 |
ii
Article 10. Holders’ Meetings | 49 | |
Section 10.01. | Purposes of Meetings | 49 |
Section 10.02. | Call of Meetings by Trustee | 49 |
Section 10.03. | Call of Meetings by Company or Holders | 50 |
Section 10.04. | Qualifications for Voting | 50 |
Section 10.05. | Regulations | 50 |
Section 10.06. | Voting | 51 |
Section 10.07. | No Delay of Rights by Meeting | 51 |
Article 11. Supplemental Indentures | 51 | |
Section 11.01. | Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders | 51 |
Section 11.02. | Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders | 53 |
Section 11.03. | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 54 |
Section 11.04. | Notation on Debt Securities | 54 |
Section 11.05. | Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished Trustee | 54 |
Article 12. Consolidation, Merger, Sale and Conveyance | 55 | |
Section 12.01. | Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 55 |
Section 12.02. | Successor Entity to be Substituted | 55 |
Section 12.03. | Opinion of Counsel to Be Given Trustee | 55 |
Article 13. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 56 | |
Section 13.01. | Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series | 56 |
Section 13.02. | Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series | 57 |
Section 13.03. | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification | 58 |
Section 13.04. | Return of Unclaimed Moneys | 59 |
Section 13.05. | Reinstatement | 59 |
Article 14. Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors | 59 | |
Section 14.01. | Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Obligations of the Company | 59 |
Article 15. Miscellaneous Provisions | 60 | |
Section 15.01. | Provisions Binding on Successors of the Company | 60 |
Section 15.02. | Indenture for Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Debt Securities | 60 |
Section 15.03. | Addresses for Notices, etc. | 60 |
Section 15.04. | New York Contract; Waiver of Jury Trial | 60 |
Section 15.05. | Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent | 61 |
Section 15.06. | Legal Holidays | 61 |
Section 15.07. | Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to Control | 61 |
Section 15.08. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 61 |
Section 15.09. | Determination of Principal Amount | 62 |
Section 15.10. | Execution in Counterparts | 62 |
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Section 15.11. | U.S.A. Patriot Act | 62 |
Section 15.12. | Force Majeure | 62 |
Signatures |
iv
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
Between
Provisions of Sections 310 through 318(a) inclusive of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Indenture dated as of [_________], 2021, between Hennessy Advisors, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee.
Section of Act | Section of Indenture |
310(a)(1) and (2) | 8.09 |
310(a)(3) and (4) | * |
310(b) | 8.08 and 8.10 |
310(c) | * |
311(a) | 8.13 |
311(b) | 8.13 |
311(c) | * |
312(a) | 6.01 and 6.02(a) |
312(b) | 6.02(b) |
312(c) | 6.02(c) |
313(a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) | 6.04(a) |
313(a)(5) | * |
313(b)(1) | * |
313(b)(2) | 6.04 |
313(c) | 6.04 |
313(d) | 6.04 |
314(a)(1) | 6.03 |
314(a)(2) | 6.03 |
314(a)(3) | 6.03 |
314(b) | * |
314(c)(1) | 5.05 |
314(c)(2) | 15.05 |
314(c)(3) | * |
314(d) | * |
314(e) | 15.05 |
314(f) | * |
315(a), (c) and (d) | 8.01 |
315(b) | 7.08 |
315(e) | 7.09 |
316(a)(1) | 7.07 |
316(a)(2) | * |
316(a) last para. | 9.04 |
316(b) | 7.10 |
317(a) | 7.02 |
317(b) | 5.04 |
318(a) | 15.07 |
* Not Applicable.
This cross reference sheet shall not, for any purpose, be considered part of the Indenture.
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of [_________], 2021, between Hennessy Advisors, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issue from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture, up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of Directors.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and 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 or acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or of any series thereof as follows:
Article 1.
Definitions
Section 1.01. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall have (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this Indenture. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States for domestic companies at the date of such computation. All references to such terms herein shall be both to the singular or the plural, as the context so requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless otherwise provided in this Indenture or in any Debt Security, the words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Debt Security or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not obligated to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustee.
Affiliate:
The term “Affiliate”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Authenticating Agent:
The term “Authenticating Agent” means the agent of the Trustee, if any, which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 8.14.
Board of Directors:
The term “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any authorized committee of such Board designated by the Board of Directors or the amended and restated articles of incorporation and fifth amended and restated bylaws of the Company, each as further amended and/or restated after the date hereof to act for such Board for purposes of this Indenture.
Board Resolution:
The term “Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by a Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day:
The term “Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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Commission:
The term “Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company:
“Company” means the party named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The forgoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.
Company Request and Company Order:
The terms “Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer, and delivered to the Trustee.
Conversion Date:
The term “Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11.
Corporate Trust Office:
The term “Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall principally be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at U.S. Bank National Association, Attn: Hennessy Advisors Notes Administrator, 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).
Currency Determination Agent:
The term “Currency Determination Agent” means the financial institution, if any, from time to time selected by the Company for purposes of Section 3.11.
Debt Security or Debt Securities:
The terms “Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” means any unsecured notes, debentures or other indebtedness of any series, as the case may be, issued by the Company from time to time, and authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Debt Security Register:
The term “Debt Security Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
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Debt Security Registrar:
The term “Debt Security Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
Depository:
The term “Depository” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01, with respect to Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued as a Global Debt Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation.
Dollar:
The term “Dollar” means the coin or currency of the United States of America which as of the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency:
The term “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11.
Event of Default:
The term “Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
Foreign Currency:
The term “Foreign Currency” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States of America.
Global Debt Security:
The term “Global Debt Security” means a Debt Security issued in global form pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof to evidence all or part of a series of Debt Securities.
Government Obligations:
The term “Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the government which issued the currency in which the Debt Securities of a series are denominated or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated, the payment of which obligations is unconditionally guaranteed by such government, and which, in either case, are full faith and credit obligations of such government, are denominated in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
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Holder:
The term “Holder” means any Person in whose name a Debt Security of any series is registered in the Debt Security Register applicable to Debt Securities of such series.
Indenture:
The term “Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, as so amended or supplemented.
Indexed Debt Security:
The term “Indexed Debt Security” means a Debt 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:
The term “interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Debt Security which by its terms bears interest only after maturity, means interest payable after maturity.
Interest Payment Date:
The term “Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Debt Securities.
Market Exchange Rate:
The term “Market Exchange Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.11.
Officers’ Certificate:
The term “Officers’ Certificate”, when used with respect to the Company, means a certificate signed by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer or a Vice President and by its Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.05 to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
Opinion of Counsel:
The term “Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company and such opinion shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Sections 2.02, 3.04 and 15.05 to the extent required by the provisions of such Sections.
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Original Issue Discount Debt Security:
The term “Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.01.
Outstanding:
The term “Outstanding”, when used with respect to Debt Securities or Debt Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) such Debt Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) such Debt Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount and in the specified currency has been theretofore deposited 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 Debt Securities, provided, however, that if such Debt 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;
(iii) such Debt Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other such Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or such Debt Securities which have been paid, pursuant to this Indenture, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Debt Securities are held by Persons in whose hands any of such Debt Securities are a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, and
(iv) such Debt Securities the indebtedness in respect to which has been discharged in accordance with Section 13.01.
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, such Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon such Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor (except in the case in which the Company or such other obligor or Affiliate owns all Debt Securities Outstanding under the Indenture, or all Outstanding Debt Securities of each such series, as the case may be, without regard to this proviso) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only such Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Such Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other such obligor upon such Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, the decision of the Trustee upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all such Debt Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all such Debt Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.
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Person:
The term “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Place of Payment:
The term “Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of that series are payable as specified in accordance with Section 3.01.
Predecessor Debt Security:
The term “Predecessor Debt Security” of any particular Debt Security means every previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Security, and for the purposes of this definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security.
Redemption Date:
The term “Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price:
The term “Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, means the price specified in such Debt Security at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Regular Record Date:
The term “Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date means the date specified in such Debt Security as the “Regular Record Date” as contemplated by Section 3.01.
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Responsible Officer:
The term “Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned to the Corporate Trust Administration 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, 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.
The term “Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Company, means the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Secretary, or any Vice President, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer, in each case, of the Company.
Special Record Date:
The term “Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest (as defined in Section 3.08) means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.08.
Stated Maturity:
The term “Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Debt Security or any installment of principal thereof or of interest thereon, means the date specified in such Debt Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Debt Security, or such installment of interest, is due and payable.
Subsidiary:
The term “Subsidiary” means any Person of which the Company, or the Company and one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly own more than 50% of the Voting Stock.
Trustee:
“Trustee” means the party named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
The term “Trust Indenture Act of 1939” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act of 1939” means to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
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Valuation Date:
The term “Valuation Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11.
Voting Stock:
The term “Voting Stock” means outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests having under ordinary circumstances voting power for the election of directors, managers or the substantial equivalent thereof whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or similar equity interest has such voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency.
Article 2.
Debt Security Forms.
Section 2.01. Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series and the certificates of authentication thereon shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture (the provisions of which shall be appropriate to reflect the terms of each series of Debt Securities, including the currency or denomination, which may be Dollars or Foreign Currency), and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon, as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their signing of such Debt Securities. Any portion of the text of any Debt Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Debt Security.
The definitive Debt Securities may be produced in any manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their signing of such Debt Securities.
Section 2.02. Forms of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in such form or forms (including global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution.
Prior to the delivery of a Debt Security of any series in any such form to the Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series for authentication, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the following:
(a) The Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Debt Security has been approved;
(b) An Officers’ Certificate dated the date such Certificate is delivered to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities in such form have been complied with;
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(c) An Opinion of Counsel stating that Debt Securities in such form, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when (i) completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, (ii) authenticated and delivered by such Trustee in accordance with this Indenture within the authorization as to aggregate principal amount established from time to time by the Board of Directors, and (iii) sold in the manner specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other similar laws generally affecting creditors’ rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Debt Securities; and
(d) A Company Order requesting the authentication and delivery of the Debt Securities.
The definitive Debt Securities and coupons, if any, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
Section 2.03. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The following is the form of the Certificate of Authentication of the Trustee to be endorsed on the face of all Debt Securities substantially as follows:
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated herein issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: ______________________
U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee | |||
By: | , | ||
Authorized Signatory |
Section 2.04. Debt Securities in Global Form. (a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Debt Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 3.04 and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee or its agent thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in a Company Order, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of the Depository to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of the nominee of the Depository or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depository (and any payment is made to the nominee of the Depository or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depository), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, the nominee of the Depository, has an interest herein.”
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Holders shall have no rights either under this Indenture with respect to any Global Debt Securities held on their behalf by the Depository or by the custodian of the Global Debt Security, or under such Global Debt Security, and the Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Debt Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any Agent or other agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Holders, the operation of customary practices of the Depository governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Debt Security.
The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any Holder, any member of (or participant in) the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository (or its nominee), with respect to any ownership interest in a Debt Security, with respect to the delivery by the Depository of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment by the Depository of any amount or delivery by the Depository of any Debt Security under or with respect to the Debt Security or with respect to any other action taken or not taken by the Depository. The Trustee may conclusively rely (and shall be fully protected in relying) upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any Holders of Debt Securities.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.04 or of Section 3.06, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Debt Security expressly permit such Global Debt Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates representing Debt Securities, a Global Debt Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 3.06, only to a nominee of the Depository for such Global Debt Security, or to the Depository, or a successor Depository for such Global Debt Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depository.
(c) (1) If at any time the Depository for a Global Debt Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Debt Security or if at any time the Depository for the Global Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depository with respect to such Global Debt Security. If a successor Depository for such Global Debt Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of certificates representing Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Debt Security, will authenticate and deliver, certificates representing Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Debt Security in exchange for such Global Debt Security.
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(2) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Debt Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of certificates representing Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Debt Security, will authenticate and deliver certificates representing Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities representing such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities.
(3) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Debt Security, the Depository for such Global Debt Security may surrender such Global Debt Security in exchange in whole or in part for certificates representing Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depository. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent shall authenticate and deliver, without a service charge, (A) to each Holder specified by the Debt Security Registrar or the Depository a certificate or certificates representing Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such person in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Holder’s beneficial interest as specified by the Debt Security Registrar or the Depository in the Global Debt Security; and (B) to such Depository a new Global Debt Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Debt Security and the aggregate principal amount of certificates representing Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.
(4) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver certificates representing Debt Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations for Debt Securities of the same series or any integral multiple thereof. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Debt Security for certificates representing Debt Securities, such Global Debt Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, certificates representing Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Debt Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations for Debt Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof, as the Debt Security Registrar or Depository shall instruct the Trustee or its agent. The Trustee or the Debt Security Registrar shall deliver at its Corporate Trust Office such certificates representing Debt Securities to the Holders in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered.
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Article 3.
The Debt Securities.
Section 3.01. Title and Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Debt Securities may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution.
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. All Debt Securities of each series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time or times of the authentication and delivery or maturity of the Debt Securities of such series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate to the extent not established in a Board Resolution, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series:
(a) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other series of Debt Securities);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of that series pursuant to this Article Three, the second paragraph of Section 4.03, or Section 11.04);
(c) the date or dates (or the manner of calculation thereof) on which the principal of the Debt Securities of the series is payable;
(d) the rate or rates (or the manner of calculation thereof) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;
(e) the Place of Payment;
(f) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currency units in which, and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(g) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices in the currency at which, the currency or currency units in which, and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(h) the denominations in which the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;
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(i) if other than Dollars, the currencies in which payments of interest or principal of (and premium, if any, with respect to) the Debt Securities of the series are to be made;
(j) if the interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, with respect to) the Debt Securities of the series 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 Debt Securities are payable, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in such Debt Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency in which such Debt Securities or any of them are to be so payable;
(k) whether the amount of payments of interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, with respect to) the Debt Securities of such series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method or method may be based 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;
(l) the extent to which any Debt Securities will be issuable in permanent global form, the manner in which any payments on a permanent global Debt Security will be made, and the appointment of any Depository relating thereto;
(m) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;
(n) if any of the Debt Securities of such series are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, this shall be so established as well as the time, manner and place for such Debt Securities to be authenticated and delivered; and
(o) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).
All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
Section 3.02. Denominations. The Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated in Section 3.01. In the absence of any specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, which may be in Dollars or any Foreign Currency.
Section 3.03. Payment of Principal and Interest. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose in the Place of Payment, as provided in Section 5.02; provided, however, that interest may be payable at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Debt Security Register on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment.
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Section 3.04. Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be executed manually, electronically or by facsimile or other electronic method in the name and on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer and by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, executed manually, electronically or by facsimile by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have executed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so executed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless shall be valid and binding and may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who executed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Securities may be executed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such an officer.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Debt Securities of any series, properly created in accordance with Section 3.01 and executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities upon receipt of a Company Order. In the event that any other Person performs the Trustee’s duties as Authenticating Agent pursuant to a duly executed agreement, the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the issuance of any Debt Securities hereunder, such notice to be delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.03 on the date such Debt Securities are delivered by the Company for authentication to such other Person.
Prior to any such authentication and delivery, the Trustee shall receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Sections 2.02 and 15.05 and the Officers’ Certificate relating to the issuance of any series of Debt Securities pursuant to Sections 15.05 and 3.01, Opinions of Counsel stating that:
(a) all instruments furnished to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority hereunder for the Trustee to authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities;
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(b) all laws and requirements with respect to the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with, the execution and delivery of the supplemental indenture, if any, will not violate the terms of this Indenture, the supplemental indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Company has corporate or company power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary corporate action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect);
(c) the form and terms of such Debt Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(d) all laws and requirements with respect to the execution and delivery by the Company of such Debt Securities have been complied with, the authentication and delivery of the Debt Securities by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture, the Company has the corporate or company power to issue such Debt Securities and such Debt Securities, assuming due authentication and delivery by the Trustee, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect) and are entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Outstanding Debt Securities, if any, of such series.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Debt Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, benefits, privileges, protections, indemnities or immunities under the Debt Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.
Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, all Debt Securities shall be dated the date of their authentication.
No Debt Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Debt Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, and such certificate upon any Debt Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Debt Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 3.05. Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon receipt of the documents required by Sections 2.02, 3.01 and 3.04, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, such temporary Debt Securities which may be produced in any authorized denominations, substantially of the tenor of such definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such temporary Debt Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such temporary Debt Securities.
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If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series, upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purposes as provided in Section 5.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of such series having the same interest rate and Stated Maturity and bearing interest from the same date of any authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series.
Section 3.06. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities. Debt Securities may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of such series that are of other authorized denominations. Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at any office or agency to be maintained for such purpose by the Company, as provided in Section 5.02, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore the Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations which the Debt Security Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Each agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 5.02 as a person authorized to register and register transfer of Debt Securities is sometimes herein referred to as a “Debt Security Registrar.”
The Company shall keep, at each such office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, as provided in Section 5.02, a register for each series of Debt Securities hereunder (the registers of all Debt Security Registrars being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Debt Securities and shall register the transfer of Debt Securities as provided in this Article Three. At all reasonable times, such Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee and any Debt Security Registrar other than the Trustee. The Holder transferring Debt Securities shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at any such office or agency, the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debt Security by any Debt Security Registrar in the registry books maintained by such Debt Security Registrar, and delivery of such Debt Security, duly authenticated, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debt Security.
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The Company will at all times designate one Person (who may be the Company and who need not be a Debt Security Registrar) to act as repository of a master list of names and addresses of Holders of the Debt Securities. The Trustee shall act as such repository unless and until some other Person is, by written notice from the Company to the Trustee and each Debt Security Registrar, designated by the Company to act as such. The Company shall cause each Debt Security Registrar to furnish to such repository, on a current basis, such information as such repository may reasonably request as to registrations, transfers, exchanges and other transactions effected by such registrar, as may be necessary or advisable to enable such repository to maintain such master list on as current a basis as is reasonably practicable.
No Person shall at any time be appointed as or act as a Debt Security Registrar unless such Person is at such time empowered under applicable law to act as such and duly registered to act as such under and to the extent required by applicable law and regulations.
All Debt Securities presented to a Debt Security Registrar for registration of transfer shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and such Debt Security Registrar duly executed by the registered Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required to issue, exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Debt Securities of any series for a period of 15 days next preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series and ending at the close of business on the day of the sending of a notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series so selected for redemption, or (b) any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption except, in the case of any Debt Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed. In addition, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer of or to exchange a Debt Security between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon registration of transfer of Debt Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or registration of transfer.
None of the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or the Company will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Debt Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 3.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. In case any temporary or definitive Debt Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security, bearing a number, letter or other distinguishing mark not contemporaneously Outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debt Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debt Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debt Security shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft, of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.
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In the absence of notice to the Trustee or the Company that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Trustee shall authenticate any such substituted Debt Security and deliver the same upon any Company Request. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every substituted Debt Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.07 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities and shall preclude (to the extent permitted by law) any and all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 3.08. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Interest which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, on any Debt Security, shall unless otherwise provided in such Debt Security be paid to the Person in whose name the Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Unless otherwise stated in the form of Debt Security of a series, interest on the Debt Securities of any series shall be computed on the basis of a 360 day year comprised of twelve 30 day months.
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Any interest on any Debt Security which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Debt Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Debt Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of such Debt Securities, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Debt Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (b).
(b) 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 the Debt Securities of that series 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.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debt Security delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.
Section 3.09. Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security is registered as the owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever whether or not such Debt Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 3.10. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc. All Debt Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer or delivered in satisfaction in whole or in part of any sinking fund obligation shall, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Trustee or the Company under this Indenture, be delivered to the Trustee and promptly cancelled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly cancelled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of cancelled Debt Securities in accordance with its customary procedures, and certification of their cancellation by the Trustee shall be delivered to the Company by the Trustee promptly upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order.
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Section 3.11. Currency and Manner of Payments. (a) With respect to Debt Securities denominated in Dollars or a Foreign Currency, the following payment provisions shall apply:
(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (a)(2) or in paragraph (c) of this Section 3.11, payment of principal of and premium, if any, on any Debt Securities will be made at the offices established pursuant to Section 5.02 by delivery of a check in the currency in which the Debt Security is denominated on the payment date against surrender of such Debt Security, and any interest on any Debt Security will be paid at such office by mailing a check in the currency in which the Debt Securities were issued to the Person entitled thereto at the address of such Person appearing on the Debt Security Register.
(2) Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security may also, subject to applicable laws and regulations, be made at such other place or places as may be designated by the Company by any appropriate method.
(b) Not later than the fourth Business Day after the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, the paying agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying, in the currency in which each series of the Debt Securities are denominated, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities to be made on such payment date, specifying the amounts so payable in respect of the Debt Securities. The failure of the paying agent to deliver such notice shall not relieve the Company from its obligation to make all payments with respect to any Debt Security when due.
(c) If the Foreign Currency in which any of the Debt Securities are denominated ceases to be used both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then with respect to each date for the payment of Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which the Foreign Currency was so used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the currency of payment for use on each such Interest Payment Date. The Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee and by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Holder of such Debt Securities with respect to such payment date shall be the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency as determined by the Currency Determination Agent as of the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date (the “Valuation Date”) in the manner provided in paragraph (d).
(d) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Currency Determination Agent as of each Valuation Date and shall be obtained by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Valuation Date.
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(e) The “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean, for any currency, the highest firm bid quotation for U.S. dollars received by the Currency Determination Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date (or, if no such rate is quoted on such date, the last date on which such rate was quoted), from three recognized foreign exchange dealers in the City of New York selected by the Currency Determination Agent and approved by the Company (one of which may be the Currency Determination Agent) for the purchase by the quoting dealer, for settlement on such payment date, of the aggregate amount of such currency payable on such payment in respect of all Notes denominated in such currency.
(f) All decisions and determinations of the Currency Determination Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency and the Market Exchange Rate shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders of the Debt Securities. In the event that the Foreign Currency ceases to be used both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, the Company, after learning thereof, will promptly give notice thereof to the Trustee (and the Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 15.03 to the Holders) specifying the Conversion Date.
(g) The Trustee shall be fully justified and protected in relying on and acting upon the information so received by it from the Company or the Currency Determination Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine such information independently. If the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Debt Securities is payable in a Foreign Currency and such Foreign Currency is not available for payment due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, then the Company shall be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders under this Indenture by making such payment in Dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate for such Foreign Currency on the latest date for which such rate was established on or before the date on which payment is due. Any payment made pursuant to this Section 3.11 in Dollars where the required payment is in a Foreign Currency shall not constitute a default or Event of Default under this Indenture.
Article 4.
Redemption of Debt Securities; Sinking Funds.
Section 4.01. Applicability of Article. The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before Stated Maturity all or any part of the Debt Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking fund (mandatory or optional) or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Debt Security for such series on such terms as are specified in such form or the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.01 or the indenture supplemental hereto as provided in Section 3.01 with respect to Debt Securities of such series. Redemption of Debt Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Debt Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, in accordance with this Article.
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Section 4.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of a series of Debt Securities pursuant to Section 4.01, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and the Company, or, at the Company’s request and provision of such notice information, the Trustee in the name of and at the expense of the Company, shall send a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debt Securities Register. The notice, if sent in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the name of the Company and shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the Redemption Price at which Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the place of payment (which shall be at the offices or agencies to be maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 5.02), that payment of the Redemption Price will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, and the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which Debt Securities will be redeemed. In case less than all Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall also identify the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part and shall state that the redemption is for the sinking fund, if such is the case. In case any Debt Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued without charge to the Holder.
If less than all the Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee notice, at least 45 days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed. Debt Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series or any multiple thereof. Thereupon the Trustee or, with respect to Global Debt Securities, the Depository, shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair (and, in such manner that complies with the requirements of the Depository, if applicable), the Debt Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed, and shall as promptly as practicable notify the Company of the Debt Securities or portions thereof so selected. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Debt Securities of any series shall relate, in the case of any Debt Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
On or prior to the date fixed for redemption specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section 4.02, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the paying agent an amount of money in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable sufficient to redeem on the date fixed for redemption all the Debt Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.
The Trustee shall not send any notice of redemption of any series of Debt Securities during the continuation of any default in payment of interest on any series of Debt Securities when due or of any Event of Default, except that where notice of redemption with respect to any series of Debt Securities shall have been sent prior to the occurrence of such default or Event of Default, the Trustee shall redeem such Debt Securities provided funds are deposited with it for such purpose.
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Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, notice of any redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities may, in the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of a corporate transaction. In such event, the related notice of redemption shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed.
Section 4.03. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as herein provided, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities or portions thereof at the Redemption Price) interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and such Debt Securities and portions of Debt Securities shall be deemed not to be Outstanding hereunder and shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except to receive payment of the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the place of payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that any installments of interest becoming due on the date fixed for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Debt Securities, or one or more previous Debt Securities evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Securities, registered as such on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.08.
Upon presentation and surrender of any Debt Security redeemed in part only, with, if the Company or the Trustee so required, 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 such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series having the same interest rate and Stated Maturity and bearing interest from the same date, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debt Security so presented and surrendered.
Section 4.04. Exclusion of Certain Debt Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption. Debt Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate number in a written statement signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at least 45 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Company or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company.
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Section 4.05. Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds. Unless the form or terms of any series of Debt Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Debt Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Debt Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (b) receive credit for any Debt Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, then Debt Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
On or before the 45th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date, the Company will deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company specifying (i) the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by deposit of cash in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable, by delivery of Debt Securities theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company (which Debt Securities shall accompany such certificate) and by credit for Debt Securities acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation redeemed by the Company and stating that the credit to be applied has not theretofore been so applied and (ii) whether the Company intends to exercise its right, if any, to make an optional sinking fund payment, and, if so, the amount thereof. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In case of the failure of the Company on or before the 45th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph), the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash (in the currency described above) and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of Debt Securities as a mandatory sinking fund payment, without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in the first paragraph of this Section 4.05 and without the right to make an optional sinking fund payment as provided herein.
If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Debt Securities made in cash (in the currency described above) shall exceed the minimum authorized denomination set forth in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Section 3.01 or the equivalent in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Debt Securities, said cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Debt Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Debt Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 4.03. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 4.02, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Debt Securities of such series to utilize said cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Debt Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 4.02 (and with the effect provided in Section 4.03) for the redemption of Debt Securities in part at the option of the Company. Debt Securities of any series which are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officers’ Certificate at least 45 days prior to the sinking fund Redemption Date as being beneficially owned by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, the Company or an entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be excluded from Debt Securities of such series eligible for selection for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment with respect to Debt Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.05. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Debt Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the maturity of Debt Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of such series at maturity.
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The Trustee shall not convert any currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable for the purposes of such sinking fund application unless a Company Request is made, and any such conversion agreed to by the Trustee in response to such request shall be for the account and at the expense of the Company and shall not affect the Company’s obligation to pay the Holders in the currency to which such Holder is entitled.
On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash in the currency described above a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Debt Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 4.05.
Article 5.
Particular Covenants of the Company.
Section 5.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid (in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each of the Debt Securities at the place (subject to Section 3.03), at the respective times and in the manner provided in each series of Debt Securities and in this Indenture.
Section 5.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. (a) So long as the Debt Securities of any series remain Outstanding, the Company will maintain at the Place of Payment, an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in this Indenture, and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities or of this Indenture may be served and shall give the Trustee written notice thereof and any changes in the location thereof. In case the Company shall at any time fail to maintain any such office or agency, or shall fail to give notice to the Trustee of any change in the location thereof, presentation and demand may be made and notice may be served in respect of the Debt Securities or of this Indenture at said office of the Trustee.
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(b) In addition to the office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 5.02(a), the Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment and presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designations, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain such office and agency at the Place of Payment, for the purposes abovementioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of (i) any such designation or rescission thereof, and (ii) the location of any such office or agency outside the Place of Payment and of any change of location thereof.
Section 5.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 8.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Section 5.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) (1) If the Company shall elect the Trustee to initially act as its paying agent or Debt Security Registrar, it will appoint the Trustee, in writing; provided that the Company may change any paying agent or Debt Security Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its subsidiaries may act in any such capacity. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to act as initial paying agent and Debt Security Registrar and the Trustee accepts such appointment. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Debt Securities other than the Trustee, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount becoming due, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
(2) The Company will cause each paying agent 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 will: (i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 applicable to it as a paying agent and (ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon any series of Debt Securities) in the making of any payment in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such paying agent as such.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on Debt Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest so becoming due and will notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on such series of Debt Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities when the same shall become due and payable.
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(c) Anything in this Section 5.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any or all series of Debt Securities then Outstanding, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company, or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section 5.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this Section 5.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust provided in this Section 5.04 is subject to Section 13.04.
Section 5.05. Certificate to Trustee. So long as the Debt Securities of any series remain Outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance or fulfillment or observance of any covenants or agreements contained herein during the preceding fiscal year, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof and, if not, certifying that to the knowledge of such officers, the Company is in compliance with the Indenture and any such series of Outstanding Debt Securities. The Officers’ Certificate need not comply with Section 15.05. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event, within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer of 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 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.
Section 5.06. Waivers of Covenants. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit, in respect of any series of Debt Securities, and in any particular instance, to comply with a covenant, agreement or condition contained in Sections 5.02, 5.04 (other than in 5.04(a)(1) and (2)) or 5.05, or with any additional covenant, agreement or condition contained in a Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series of Debt Securities, any indenture supplemental hereto applicable to such series or any Debt Security of such series if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee before or after the time for such compliance the consent in writing of the Holders of more than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series affected by such waiver at the time Outstanding, either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect any obligation not expressly waived nor impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
Article 6.
Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Company
and the Trustee.
Section 6.01. Holders’ Lists. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished; provided, however, that no such list with respect to any particular series of Debt Securities need be furnished at any such time if the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as the Debt Security Registrar for such series designated under Section 3.06 or otherwise.
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Section 6.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Debt Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 6.01 or received by the Trustee in the capacity of the Debt Security Registrar (if so acting) under Section 3.06. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 6.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Debt Securities of any series or of all Debt Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(c) Every Holder of Debt Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Section 6.03. Reports by the Company. The Company agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission; provided further that any such information, documents or reports filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system or any successor thereto shall be deemed to have been filed and/or transmitted as required by this Section as of the date on which any such information, documents or reports are filed for public availability with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR or any successor thereto (it being understood that the Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining whether such filings or postings have been made). Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
Section 6.04. Reports by the Trustee. (a) 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 of 1939 at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. The interval between transmissions of reports to be transmitted at intervals shall be twelve months or such shorter time required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. If the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 does not specify the date on which a report is due, such report shall be dated as of October 15, and due on November 15 of each year, commencing in 2022.
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(b) 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 Debt Securities of any series are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when the Debt Securities of any series are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Article 7.
Remedies of the Trustee and Holders
on Event of Default.
Section 7.01. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, with respect to any series of Debt Securities, wherever used herein, 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 either inapplicable to such series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture under which such series of Debt Securities is issued or in the form of Debt Security for such series:
(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Security of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(b) default in the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on any Debt Security of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
(c) default in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation, if any, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Debt Securities of such series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(d) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any of the covenants, warranties or agreements on the part of the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series in this Indenture (other than a covenant, warranty or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section) continued for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, specifying such failure and requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series;
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(e) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Company under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any other similar applicable Federal or state law, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee or other similar official in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of all or substantially all of its property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days;
(f) the Company shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking an arrangement or a reorganization under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any other similar applicable Federal or state law, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee or other similar official in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of all or substantially all of its property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors generally, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or the supplemental indenture under which such series of Debt Securities is issued or in the form of Debt Security for such series.
In each and every such case, so long as such Event of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities for which there are Debt Securities Outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01) and shall not have been remedied or waived to the extent permitted by the terms of this Indenture, unless the principal of all of the Debt Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Debt Securities of such series and the interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof as due and payable upon acceleration) and any accrued and unpaid interest on that series shall immediately become due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. This provision, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable all matured installments of interest upon all of the Debt Securities and the principal of and premium, if any, on any and all Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by such declaration (with interest on overdue installments of interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and on such principal and premium, if any, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series or as otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for such series, to the date of such payment or deposit) and the expenses of the Trustee (subject to Section 8.06), and any and all defaults under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due by such declaration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived in accordance with Section 7.07 or provision deemed by the Trustee to be adequate shall have been made therefor — then and in every such case the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
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In case the Trustee or any Holders shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section 7.02. Payment of Debt Securities Upon Default; Suit Therefor. The Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Security of any series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on any Debt Security of any series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity of the Debt Security or upon redemption or by declaration or otherwise or (c) in case default shall be made in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation with respect to the Debt Securities of any series when the same becomes due by the terms of the Debt Securities of any series, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days—then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of any such series, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on any such Debt Securities for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series or as otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security of such series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred and advances made by the Trustee, except compensation or advances arising, or expenses or liabilities incurred, as a result of the Trustee’s negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Company may pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities of any series to the Persons entitled thereto, whether or not the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities of such series are overdue.
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In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities and collect, in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable. If any Event of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities of any series under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.02, shall be entitled and empowered by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, (a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities, its or their creditors, or its or their property, (b) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Holders of any Debt Securities of any series in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and (c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred and advances made by the Trustee except compensation or advances arising, or expenses or liabilities incurred, as a result of the Trustee’s negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
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 or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debt Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder (except, as aforesaid, for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions) in any such proceeding.
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All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Debt Securities, or the production thereof on any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Debt Securities in respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Debt Securities parties to any such proceedings.
Section 7.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.02 and any other money or property distributed in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the Debt Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:
First: To the Trustee for payment of amounts owed to the Trustee, including payment of all compensation agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee, and of all other expenses and liabilities incurred (including, in each case, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), and all advances made, by the Trustee, and the costs and expenses of collection (including, in each case, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) except compensation or advances arising, or expenses or liabilities incurred, as a result of its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and any other amounts owing the Trustee under Section 8.06;
Second: In case the principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on such Debt Securities, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Debt Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;
Third: In case the principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon such Debt Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Debt Securities; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon such Debt Securities, then, to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any other such Debt Security, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest;
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Fourth: To the payment of any surplus then remaining to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
Section 7.04. Proceedings by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity, security or both as it may reasonably require against the costs, expenses and other liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, security or both, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding (and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07), it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Debt Security of every series with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Debt Securities shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of such Debt Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Debt Securities.
Section 7.05. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 7.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. All powers and remedies given by this Article Seven to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, every power and remedy given by this Article Seven or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.
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Section 7.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt 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 Debt Securities by this Indenture; provided, however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 8.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine upon advice of counsel that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or would be materially and unjustly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not joining in such direction or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or if the Trustee in good faith shall so determine that the actions or forebearances specified in or pursuant to such direction would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the Debt Securities of all series not joining in the giving of said direction, it being understood that (subject to Section 8.01) the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forebearances are duly prejudicial to such Holders. The Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee not inconsistent with such direction. Subject to Section 7.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series waive any past default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, or a default in the making of any sinking fund payment with respect to such Debt Securities. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of such Debt Securities shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.07, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debt Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
This Section 7.07 shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and such Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and Section 316(a)(1)(B) are hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Section 7.08. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit first-class by mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Debt Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Debt Security Register, notice of such default hereunder actually 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 on any Debt Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 7.01(d) with respect to Debt Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 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 Debt Securities of such series.
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Section 7.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee, and any provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to such effect is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Section 7.10. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Debt Security shall have the rights, which are absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest on such Debt Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Debt Security (or in the case of redemption or repayment, on the date for redemption or repayment, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Article 8.
Concerning the Trustee.
Section 8.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, 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.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision thereof 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 stated therein).
(c) 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.
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(d) 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 or bad faith, except that:
(1) this Subsection (d) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (a) or (b) of this Section 8.01;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 8.01.
Section 8.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01,
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by Company Request or Company Order (unless otherwise evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and 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 reliance thereon;
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(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, pursuant to the provisions of 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 may be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note, or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of such Debt Securities then Outstanding; provided, however, that the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and provided, further, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any misconduct (whether willful or unintentional), bad faith or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) 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 any Holder is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Debt Securities and this Indenture;
(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and
(j) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
(k) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action or inaction;
(l) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder; and
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(m) 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.
Section 8.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series. The Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor the Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company or any Debt Securities or the proceeds of any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 8.04. Trustee and Agents May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee, any paying agent, or any agent of the Trustee or the Company under this Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities of any series with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or such agent and, subject to Sections 8.08 and 8.13, if operative, may otherwise deal with the Company and receive, collect, hold, and retain collections from the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.
Section 8.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 13.04, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on, or to invest, any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon. So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the receipt of a Company Order.
Section 8.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and all persons not regularly in its employ and any amounts paid by the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent pursuant to Section 8.14) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, including the acceptance or administration of this trust, or the performance of its duties hereunder, including the current payment of all costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises and the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section). The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Debt Securities. In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or Section 7.01(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
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“Trustee” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 8.07. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate conforming to the requirements of this Indenture delivered to the Trustee, and such Certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the reliance thereof.
Section 8.08. Conflicting Interest of Trustee. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and this Indenture.
Section 8.09. Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Debt Securities hereunder which shall be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to exercise trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority and willing to act as Trustee hereunder. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 8.09, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Debt Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.09, such Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 8.10.
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Section 8.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may at any time resign with respect to any series of Debt Securities by giving written notice by first class mail of such resignation to the Company and to the Holders of such series of Debt Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Holders, the resigning Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder of such series of Debt Securities who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 7.09, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint such successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur—
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 8.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed in accordance with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of a note of such series, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Debt Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to such series and appoint a successor trustee for such series by Company Order, one copy of which Company Order shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 7.09, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove such Trustee and appoint such successor trustee. In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series without cause and appoint a successor Trustee in accordance with this Section 8.10, if the Company gives written notice to the Trustee of such proposed removal at least 90 calendar days in advance of the proposed effective date of such removal.
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(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Company the evidence provided for in Section 9.01 of the action in that regard taken by the Holders, and nominate a successor Trustee which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within ten days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 8.10 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to all or any series of Debt Securities and any appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 8.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 8.11.
Section 8.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 8.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective with respect to all or any series as to which it is resigning as Trustee, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder with respect to all or any such series, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein with respect to all or any such series; nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee with respect to all or any such series so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee with respect to all or any series as to which it is resigning as Trustee, to secure any amounts and shall be entitled to any indemnities then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.06.
No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 8.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 8.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 8.09.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to all or any series of Debt Securities as provided in this Section 8.11, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
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In case the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which 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 Debt Securities of any series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and 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 and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.
Section 8.12. Succession by Merger, etc. Subject to Sections 8.08 and 8.09, 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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case at the time any successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities in the name of such successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 8.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).
Section 8.14. Authenticating Agents. There may be an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee from time to time with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of any series of Debt Securities issued upon original issuance, exchange, transfer or redemption thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though such Authenticating Agent (or Authenticating Agents) had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities, and Debt Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as though authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities by any Authenticating Agent pursuant to this Section 8.14 shall be deemed to be the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities “by the Trustee”, and whenever this Indenture provides that “the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver” Debt Securities or that Debt Securities “shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee”, such authentication and delivery by any Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be authentication and delivery by the Trustee. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, with a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and authorized under such laws to act as an authenticating agent, duly registered to act as such, if and to the extent required by applicable law and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such Person publishes reports of its condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 8.14 the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.14, or to be duly registered if and to the extent required by applicable law and regulations, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section 8.14.
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Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities of any series 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 its Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by its Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
Any Person into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the authenticating agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor Person is otherwise eligible under this Section 8.14, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent or such successor Person.
In case at the time such successor to any such agency shall succeed to such agency any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to such Authenticating Agent may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Authenticating Agent and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to any Authenticating Agent may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Authenticating Agent; and in all cases such certificate shall have the full force which it has anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the predecessor Authenticating Agent shall have had such force; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Authenticating Agent or to authenticate Debt Securities in the name of any predecessor Authenticating Agent shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign as Authenticating Agent with respect to any series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to any series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 8.14, the Trustee may, and shall, upon request of the Company, promptly use its best efforts to appoint a successor Authenticating Agent.
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Upon the appointment, at any time after the original issuance of any of the Debt Securities, of any successor, additional or new Authenticating Agent, the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall at the expense of the Company mail notice of such appointment to all Holders of Debt Securities of such series as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Debt Security Register.
Any successor Authenticating Agent with respect to any series of Debt Securities upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as though originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein with respect to such series. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 8.14 and duly registered if and to the extent required under applicable law and regulations.
Any Authenticating Agent by the acceptance of its appointment with respect to any series of Debt Securities shall be deemed to have agreed with the Trustee that: (a) it will perform and carry out the duties of an Authenticating Agent as herein set forth with respect to such series, including the duties to authenticate and deliver Debt Securities when presented to it in connection with exchanges, registrations of transfer or redemptions thereof; (b) it will keep and maintain, and furnish to the Trustee from time to time as requested by the Trustee appropriate records of all transactions carried out by it as Authenticating Agent and will furnish the Trustee such other information and reports as the Trustee may reasonably require; (c) it is eligible for appointment as Authenticating Agent under this Section 8.14 and will notify the Trustee promptly if it shall cease to be so qualified; and (d) it will indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee and will defend any claim asserted against the Trustee by reason of any acts or failures to act of the Authenticating Agent with respect to such series but it shall have no liability for any action taken by it at the specific written direction of the Trustee.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation and expenses for its services, and the Trustee shall have no liability for such payments.
The provisions of Sections 8.02(a), (b), (c), (e) and (f), 8.03, 8.04, 8.06 (insofar as it pertains to indemnification), 9.01, 9.02 and 9.03 shall bind and inure to the benefit of each Authenticating Agent to the same extent that they bind and inure to the benefit of the Trustee.
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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 8.14, the Debt Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated herein issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.
__________________________________________________________, As Trustee |
____________________________________________________________, As Trustee |
|
-OR- | ||
By: | By: ________________________________________________________, | |
Authorized Officer | as Authenticating Agent | |
By: | ||
Authorized Officer |
Section 8.15. Trustee's Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
Article 9.
Concerning the Holders.
Section 9.01. Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage of such series have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders of such series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of the Holders of such series voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Ten, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders of such series.
Section 9.02. Proof of Execution by Holders. Subject to the provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.02 and 10.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or such Holder’s agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities shall be provided by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Debt Security Registrar with respect to a series of Debt Securities.
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The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 10.06.
Section 9.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee with respect to a series of Debt Securities, and any agent of the Trustee or the Company under this Indenture may deem the Person in whose name such Debt Security shall be registered upon the Debt Security Register to be, and may treat such Person as, the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by anyone other than the Company, the Trustee or any such agent) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any Holder for the time being or upon such Holder’s order shall, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, be effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.
Section 9.04. Company-Owned Debt Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of any series have concurred in any direction or consent under this Indenture, Debt Securities of such series which are owned by the Company or any other obligor upon such Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor (except in the case in which the Company or such other obligor or affiliate owns all Debt Securities Outstanding under the Indenture, or all Outstanding Debt Securities of each such series, as the case may be, without regard to this proviso) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determinations; provided, however, that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction or consent only such Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding notwithstanding this Section 9.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the right of the pledgee to vote such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Debt Securities of a series, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities; and, subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificates as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all such Debt Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.
Section 9.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 9.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to or are bound by consents to such action, may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 9.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued on transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Debt Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of all of the Debt Securities affected by such action.
SECTION 9.06 Record Dates. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action 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 purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Debt Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Debt Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.
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Article 10.
Holders’ Meetings.
Section 10.01. Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Holders of the Debt Securities of all or any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee with respect to such series, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article Seven;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article Eight;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all or any series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section 10.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of all or any series to take any action specified in Section 10.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders of Debt Securities of all or any series, setting forth the time and place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed by the Trustee to Holders of Debt Securities of each series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken at such meeting at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
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Section 10.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Holders. In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a resolution by the Board of Directors, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of each series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of such Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 10.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 10.02.
Section 10.04. Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities a person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Debt Securities of a series affected by the action proposed to be taken or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Debt Securities. The rights of Holders of Debt Securities to have their votes counted shall be subject to the provisions in the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
Section 10.05. Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities, in regard to proof of the holding of Debt Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulation, the holding of Debt Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 9.02 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in said Section 9.02 or by having the signature of the Person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any bank, broker or trust company.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Debt Securities as provided in Section 10.03, in which case the Company or the Holders of Debt Securities calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities represented at the meeting and entitled to vote.
Subject to the provisions of Section 9.04, at any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of a series entitled to vote at such meeting or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series held or represented by such Holder; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debt Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote except as a Holder of Debt Securities of such series or proxy therefor. Any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02 or 10.03 may be adjourned from time to time and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
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At any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities, the presence of Persons holding or representing Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum; but, if less than quorum be present, the Persons holding or representing a majority of the Debt Securities represented at the meeting may adjourn such meeting with the same effect, for all intents and purposes, as though a quorum had been present.
Section 10.06. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to vote at such meeting or of their representatives by proxy, and the letter or letters, serial number or numbers or other distinguishing marks of the Debt Securities held or represented by each such Holder. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Debt Securities shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 10.02. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 10.07. No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing in this Article Ten contained shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any or all series or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Debt Securities under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities.
Article 11.
Supplemental Indentures.
Section 11.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders. The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Articles Five and Twelve hereof;
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(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of Debt Securities of any or all series, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a default or an Event of Default with respect to such series permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;
(c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to make any changes hereto that are required by law;
(d) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee;
(e) to make such other provisions, changes, additions or deletions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Debt Securities in any material respect (for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment or supplement pursuant to this clause (e) made solely to conform this Indenture to the final offering memorandum provided to investors in connection with the offering of the Debt Securities by the Company will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series);
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another Person as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities 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 Section 8.11;
(g) to modify, amend or supplement this Indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of any indenture supplemental hereto under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;
(h) to provide for the issuance under this Indenture of Debt Securities in coupon form (including Debt Securities registrable as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such Debt Securities with Debt Securities of the same series issued hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
(i) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Debt Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
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(j) to establish any additional form of Debt Security, as permitted by Section 2.02, and to provide for the issuance of any additional series of Debt Securities, as permitted by Section 3.01, and to set forth the terms thereof.
The Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, benefits, privileges, protections, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 11.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 11.02.
Section 11.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the written consent (evidenced as provided in Section 9.01) of the Holders of greater than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (all such Holders voting as a single class), by act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time 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 any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of each series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the written consent of the Holders of all of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series directly and adversely affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Debt Security of such series, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or make the principal thereof or interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debt Securities of such series, or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any Debt Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date) or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities of a series, the Holders of which are required to consent (1) to any such supplemental indenture, (2) to rescind and annul a declaration that any Debt Securities of such series are due and payable as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, (3) to waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences or (4) to waive compliance with Sections 5.02, 5.04 (other than 5.04(a)(1) and (2)) or 5.05, or with any additional covenant, agreement or condition contained in a Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing such series of Debt Securities, any indenture supplemental hereto applicable to such series or any Debt Security of such series.
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Upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Request, accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders of Debt Securities as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, benefits, privileges, protections, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Debt Securities under this Section 11.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 11.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of Debt Securities shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 11.04. Notation on Debt Securities. Debt Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series.
Section 11.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 8.01 and 8.02, shall receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture (including, but not limited to this Article Eleven), that all conditions precedent thereto have been met or waived, that such amendment or supplemental indenture is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms.
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Article 12.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale and Conveyance.
Section 12.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debt Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance (excluding any pledge) or lease of all or substantially all of the property of the Company to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, and the Company hereby covenants and agrees, that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease shall be upon the condition that (a) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease the Person (whether the Company or such other Person) formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger, or to which such sale, conveyance or lease shall have been made, shall not be in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company; (b) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, conveyance or lease shall have been made, shall be a Person organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof; and (c) the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debt Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the Person which shall have acquired or leased such property.
Section 12.02. Successor Entity to be Substituted. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance (excluding any pledge) or lease and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debt Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to performed or observed by the Company, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and (except in the event of a conveyance by way of lease) the predecessor Person shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Debt Securities.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
Section 12.03. Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee. The Trustee, subject to Sections 8.01 and 8.02, shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale conveyance or lease and any such assumption complies with the provisions of this Article Twelve and that all conditions precedent herein provided relating to such transactions have been complied with.
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Article 13.
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
Section 13.01. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series. The Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Debt Securities of a series, the provisions of this Indenture (except as to (x) the rights of Holders of Debt Securities of such series to receive, from the money, in the currency required, and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.02(a) or the interest and principal received by the Trustee in respect of such Government Obligations, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Debt Securities on the Stated Maturities thereof or upon the Redemption Dates for Debt Securities required to be redeemed pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous provisions relating to Debt Securities of that series or pursuant to any call for redemption relating to Debt Securities of that series, (y) the Company’s rights and obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under Sections 3.06, 3.07, 13.03 and 13.04, 5.02, 5.04, 6.01, 8.06, 8.10, 8.11 and, to the extent applicable to such series, Article Four, so long as the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of such series remain unpaid and, thereafter, only the Company’s rights and obligations under Sections 5.04, 8.06, 13.03 and 13.04, and (z) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series) as it relates to such Debt Securities shall no longer be in effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same if:
(a) (1) all Debt Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Debt Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Sections 13.03 and 13.04) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid in the currency required all other sums payable under this Indenture in respect of the Debt 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 of the entire indebtedness of all Debt Securities of any such series and the discharge of the Indenture as it relates to such Debt Securities have been complied with; or
(b) (1) all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable, or (B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (C) 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;
(2) the condition described in paragraph (a) of Section 13.02 has been satisfied; and
(3) the conditions described in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this Section 13.01 have been satisfied; or
(c) (1) the conditions referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this Section 13.01 have been satisfied;
(2) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit referred to in paragraph (a) of Section 13.02 or on the ninety-first day after the date of such deposit; provided, however, that should that condition fail to be satisfied on or before such ninety-first day, the Trustee shall promptly, upon satisfactory receipt of evidence of such failure, return such deposit to the Company;
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(3) the Company has either (A) delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel of a nationally-recognized independent tax counsel to the effect that Holders of the Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the satisfaction, discharge and defeasance contemplated by this paragraph (c) of this Section 13.01 and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred or (B) the Company shall have received from, or there shall have been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect stated in subsection (A) of this Section 13.01(c)(3); and
(4) the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the satisfaction, discharge and defeasance contemplated by this Section 13.01 will not result in the delisting of the Debt Securities of that series from any nationally-recognized securities exchange on which they are listed.
Section 13.02. Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series. The provisions of this Indenture (except as to (x) the rights of Holders of Debt Securities of any series to receive, from the money, in the currency required, and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a) below or the interest and principal received by the Trustee in respect of such Government Obligations, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Debt Securities on the Stated Maturities thereof or upon the Redemption Dates for Debt Securities required to be redeemed pursuant to any mandatory sinking or analogous provisions relating to Debt Securities of that series or pursuant to any call for redemption relating to Debt Securities of that series, (y) the Company’s rights and obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under Sections 3.06, 3.07, 13.03, 13.04, Article Seven (other than subsection (d) of Section 7.01), Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.04, 6.01, 8.06, 8.10, 8.11 and, to the extent applicable to such series, Article Four, so long as the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of such series remain unpaid and, thereafter, only the Company’s rights and obligations under Sections 5.04, 8.06, 13.03 and 13.04, and (z) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series) as it relates to Debt Securities of any series shall no longer be in effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company shall, upon Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same if:
(a) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose (1) Dollars or Foreign Currency, as applicable based on the denomination of such series of Debt Securities, in an amount, or (2) Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment in respect of such series of Debt Securities in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, sufficient, after payment of all Federal, state and local taxes in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, 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 (A) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments or payments pursuant to any call for redemption applicable to Debt Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Securities;
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(b) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(c) the interest of the Holders in such deposit shall have been duly perfected under the applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code; and
(d) 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 defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Section 13.03. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13.04, all money and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.01 or 13.02 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money and Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee as contemplated by Section 13.01 or 13.02.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.01 or 13.02 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations, other than any such tax, fee or other charge payable by or on behalf of Holders. The Company shall be entitled to prompt notice of an assessment or the commencement of any proceeding for which indemnification may be sought hereunder and, at its election, to contest such assessment or to participate in, assume the defense of, or settle such proceeding.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Section 13.01 or 13.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such obligations or money were deposited or received.
(d) If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Section 13.03 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, if any, of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 13.01 or Section 13.02, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Section 13.03; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of (and premium, if any) on any Debt Securities, if any, of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such series of Debt Securities, if any, to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee.
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Section 13.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on Debt Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of Debt Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on demand; and the Holder of any of the Debt Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment thereof.
Section 13.05. Reinstatement. If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with Sections 13.01 or 13.02 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Sections 13.01 or 13.02 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Sections 13.01 or 13.02; provided that, if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on the Debt Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Debt Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee.
Article 14.
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders,
Officers and Directors.
Section 14.01. Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Obligations of the Company. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, any supplemental indenture, or of any Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, organizer, stockholder, member, owner, officer, director, manager or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any predecessor or successor Person, either directly or through the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely obligations of the Company, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, any incorporator, organizer, stockholder, member, owner, officer, director, manager or employee, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor Person, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture, or in any of the Debt Securities or implied thereby; and that any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, organizer, stockholder, member, owner, officer, director, manager or employee, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debt Securities or implied thereby, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of such Debt Securities.
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Article 15.
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Section 15.01. Provisions Binding on Successors of the Company. All of the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
Section 15.02. Indenture for Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Debt Securities. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto, any agent of the Trustee or the Company under this Indenture and the Holders of the Debt Securities, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being, subject to the provisions of Articles Twelve and Fourteen, for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, any agent of the Trustee or the Company under this Indenture and the Holders of the Debt Securities.
Section 15.03. Addresses for Notices, etc. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Debt Securities on the Company may be given or served by being deposited, registered or certified mail postage prepaid, in a post office letter box in the United States addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to the Company, Hennessy Advisors, Inc., 7250 Redwood Boulevard, Suite 200, Novato, California 94945, Telecopier No.:[________], Attention: General Counsel. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Holder of a Debt Security or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, addressed to the attention of its Corporate Trust Department. Any notice, report or other instrument required by any of the provisions of this Indenture to be given by the Trustee to the Holders of Debt Securities of any or all series shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given, for all purposes, when mailed by first class mail.
Section 15.04. New York Contract; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Indenture and the Debt Securities shall for all purposes be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE DEBT SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
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Section 15.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Upon any Company request to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any (including any covenant, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 15.06. Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of or premium, if any, on any series of Debt Securities or the date fixed for redemption of any Debt Security or Debt Securities will be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are legally authorized or obligated to close in New York or any other location where a paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.02 is located, then payment of such interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on such Debt Securities need not be made by such paying agent on such date but may be made by such paying agent on the next succeeding business day that is not a day in such location that is either a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are legally authorized or obligated to close, with the same force and effect as if made on such date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such prior date. If any notice, documents or other materials shall be required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of this Indenture on a day that is a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are legally authorized or obligated to close in New York, the required delivery date shall be extended to the next succeeding business day that is not a day in such location that is either a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are legally authorized or obligated to close.
Section 15.07. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to Control. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 through 317 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, by the operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control, except as, and to the extent, expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 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.
Section 15.08. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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Section 15.09. Determination of Principal Amount. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, or whether sufficient funds are available for redemption or for any other purpose, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.01, (b) the principal amount of any Debt Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be determined by converting the Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate as of the date of such determination and (c) the principal amount of any Indexed Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal face amount of such Indexed Debt Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 15.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. __________________________ hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.
Section 15.11. 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 reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Section 15.12. 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, to the extent beyond its control, 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; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be executed as of the day and year first written above.
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC. | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title | |||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
Exhibit 4.2
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
Dated as of October [●], 2021
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of October [●], 2021 is between Hennessy Advisors, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an indenture, dated as of October [●], 2021 (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Debt Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture.
The Company desires to issue and sell up to $[40,250,000] aggregate principal amount of the Company’s [●]% Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”).
Sections 11.01(i) and 11.01(j) of the Base Indenture provide that without the consent of Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to (i) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Base Indenture, provided, however, that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Debt Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision and/or (ii) establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.02 and Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture.
The Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to change or eliminate certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (a “Future Supplemental Indenture”)).
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
Article I
TERMS OF THE NOTES
Section 1.01 The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:
(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Debt Securities having the title “[●]% Notes due 2026.” The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 425885 209 and an ISIN number of US4258852098.
(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Article 3, the second paragraph of Section 4.03, or Section 11.04 of the Indenture) shall be $[35,000,000] (or up to $[40,250,000] aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or a Future Supplemental Indenture, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case “Additional Notes”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes. Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.
(c) The Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be December 31, 2026. The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on the Stated Maturity, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be [●]% per annum. The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be [October [●]] 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2021. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment). The initial interest period will be the period from and including [October [●]], 2021, to, but excluding, the initial Interest Payment Date, and the subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55107, and at such other address as designated by the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that, at the request of the registered Holder the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in the United States, on the date when such amount is due and payable provided, further, however, that so long as the Notes are registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee. To request payment by wire transfer, the registered Holder must give the paying agent and the Trustee appropriate wire transfer instructions at least 15 Business Days before the requested payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an Interest Payment Date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the registered Holder on the Regular Record Date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in accordance with this Section. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a “Global Note”). The Global Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this First Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Debt Security Registrar, in accordance with Sections 2.04 and 3.06 of the Base Indenture.
(f) The depositary for such Global Notes (the “Depository”) shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. The Debt Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.
(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.06 of the Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 13.06 of the Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Sections 5.07 and 5.08 of the Indenture.
(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Article 4 of the Base Indenture and as follows:
(i) The Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after December 31, 2023, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest payments otherwise payable thereon for the then-current quarterly interest period accrued to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
(ii) Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and electronically delivered through The Depository Trust Company or mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Debt Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 4.02 of the Base Indenture.
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(iii) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes, the Trustee or, with respect to the Global Notes, the Depository will determine the method for selecting the particular Notes to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Base Indenture and the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Notes are listed, to the extent applicable.
(iv) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.
(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 4.05 of the Base Indenture.
(j) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $25.00 and integral multiples of $25.00 in excess thereof.
(k) Holders of the Notes will not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit purchases by the Company in the open market, private transactions or otherwise prior to the Stated Maturity.
Article II
DEFINITION AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 2.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 1 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:
Capital Lease Obligation:
The term “Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of the Company or any Subsidiaries the Company may acquire or establish in the future, or of a special purpose or other entity not consolidated with the Company and any Subsidiaries the Company may acquire or establish in the future that (x) initially were not included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as capital lease obligations and were subsequently characterized as capital lease obligations or, in the case of such a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with the Company and its Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease obligations upon such consolidation, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (y) did not exist on the date of the First Supplemental Indenture and were required to be characterized as capital lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease obligations on such date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capital Lease Obligations; provided further, notwithstanding the foregoing, “Capital Lease Obligations” shall not include obligations relating to a lease that was (or would be) classified and accounted for by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an operating lease under GAAP as in effect prior to the effectiveness of Accounting Standards Codification 842.
Exchange Act:
The term “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
First Supplemental Indenture:
The term “First Supplemental Indenture” means that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October [●], 2021, between the Company and the Trustee.
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GAAP:
The term “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States; provided, notwithstanding the foregoing, if any change in such generally accepted accounting principles or in the application thereof after the date of the First Supplemental Indenture would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in the Debt Securities or the Indenture, then the Company may deliver notice to the Trustee that such change will not apply for any determinations thereafter under the Debt Securities or the Indenture.
Net Consolidated Debt:
The term “Net Consolidated Debt” means, as of any determination date, without duplication, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries, plus (b) Capital Lease Obligations that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries may have outstanding as of such date, minus (c) the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents included on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet; provided that the cash proceeds of any proposed incurrence of indebtedness shall not be included in this clause (c) for purposes of calculating Net Consolidated Debt; provided further that “Net Consolidated Debt” shall not include (1) any indebtedness that has been defeased, discharged and/or redeemed, provided that funds in an amount equal to all such indebtedness (including interest and any other amounts required to be paid to the holders thereof in order to give effect to such defeasance, discharge or redemption) have been irrevocably deposited with a trustee or agent for the benefit of the relevant holders of such indebtedness, (2) interest, fees, make-whole amounts, premium, charges or expenses, if any, relating to the principal amount of Net Consolidated Debt, and (3) any indebtedness owing to the Company by any of its Subsidiaries or any indebtedness owing to any of its Subsidiaries by the Company or another Subsidiary.
Net Consolidated Debt to Equity Ratio:
The term “Net Consolidated Debt to Equity Ratio” means the ratio of Net Consolidated Debt to the Company’s total shareholders’ equity as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet.
Article III
COVENANTS
Section 3.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 5 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Sections 5.07 through 5.08 thereto, each as set forth below:
“Section 5.07. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.
If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding: (i) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and (ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (other than the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter), unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company. All such financial statements shall be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP.”
“Section 5.08. Net Consolidated Debt to Equity Ratio.
The Company agrees to not permit the Net Consolidated Debt to Equity Ratio, measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, to be greater than 2 to 1.”
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Article IV
REMEDIES
Section 4.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the final two paragraphs thereof with the following:
“In each and every such case, so long as such Event of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities for which there are Debt Securities Outstanding occurs and is continuing and shall not have been remedied or waived to the extent permitted by the terms of this Indenture, unless the principal of all of the Debt Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of all the Debt Securities of such series and the interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. This provision, however, is subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable all matured installments of interest upon all of the Debt Securities and the principal of and premium, if any, on any and all Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by such declaration (with interest on overdue installments of interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and on such principal and premium, if any, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series or as otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for such series, to the date of such payment or deposit) and the expenses of the Trustee (subject to Section 8.06), and (ii) any and all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due by such declaration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived in accordance with Section 7.07 or provision deemed by the Trustee to be adequate shall have been made therefor — then and in every such case the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
In case the Trustee or any Holders shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.”
Section 4.02 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 7.07 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the third sentence thereof with the following:
“Subject to Section 7.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series waive any past default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the written consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series directly and adversely affected thereby.”
Article V
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Section 5.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 10.05 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the third paragraph thereof with the following:
“Subject to the provisions of Section 9.04, at any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of a series entitled to vote at such meeting or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $25.00 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series held or represented by such Holder; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debt Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote except as a Holder of Debt Securities of such series or proxy therefor. Any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02 or 10.03 may be adjourned from time to time and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.”
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Article VI
MERGER
Section 6.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 12 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Section 12.01 thereof with the following:
“Section 12.01 Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms
Unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Debt Securities, the Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other entity or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless:
(1) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the entity (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Debt Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.”
Article VII
DEFEASANCE
Section 7.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 13 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Section 13.01 thereof with the following:
“Section 13.01 Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series
Except as set forth below, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Debt Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto, any surviving rights of tender for repayment at the option of the Holders), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall promptly execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when:
(1) | Either: |
(A) | all Debt Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Debt Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (ii) Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Sections 13.03 and 13.04) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
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(B) | all Debt 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 irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, solely for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, an amount in the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Debt Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Debt Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such doposit) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) | the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Debt 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 in this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with. |
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 8.06, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 8.14, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.05 and Section 13.04 shall survive any termination of this Indenture.”
Section 7.02 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 13.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clauses (b) and (c) thereof with the following:
“(b) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to such series of Debt Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 shall occur within the next 90 days thereafter;
(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S Internal Revenue Service, a ruling, or (ii) there has been a change in applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, the Holders of such Outstanding Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;”
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Section 7.03 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 13.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding clause (e) thereof with the following:
“(e) Such 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 is a party or by which it is bound.”
Section 7.04 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 13 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing all reference to “Section 13.01 or 13.02” in Sections 13.03 or 13.05 thereof with “Sections 13.01, 13.02 or 13.06”.
Section 7.05 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article 13 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Section 13.06:
“Section 13.06 Covenant Defeasance
The Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenant with respect to a series of Outstanding Debt Securities and such Debt 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 such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder if:
(a) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose (1) Dollars or Foreign Currency, as applicable based on the denomination of such series of Debt Securities, in an amount, or (2) Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment in respect of such series of Debt Securities in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, sufficient, after payment of all Federal, state and local taxes in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, 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 (A) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments or payments pursuant to any call for redemption applicable to Debt Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Securities;
(b) Such 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 is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such series of Debt Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 shall occur within the next 90 days thereafter;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and
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(e) 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 defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
For this purpose, such “covenant defeasance” means that, with respect to such Outstanding Debt 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 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 7.01(d) or 7.01(g) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Debt Securities shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of such Debt Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 13.05.”
Article VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 This First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This First Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
Section 8.02 In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 8.03 This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same First Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 8.04 The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture.
Section 8.05 The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.
Section 8.06 Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Debt Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.
Section 8.07 The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]
Exhibit A - Form of Global Note
This Debt Security is a Global Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof. This Debt Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Debt Security registered, and no transfer of this Debt Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and such certificate issued in exchange for this certificate is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful, as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Hennessy Advisors, Inc.
No. |
$
CUSIP No. 425885 209 ISIN No. US4258852098 |
[●]% Notes Due 2026
Hennessy Advisors, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of California (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of (U.S. $ ) on December 31, 2026 and to pay interest thereon from [●], 2021 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 in each year, commencing December 31, 2021 (provided, that if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment), at the rate of [●]% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Debt Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Debt Security may be issued as part of a series.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on this Debt Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that, at the request of the registered Holder as provided in the Indenture, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on this Debt Security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in the United States, on the date when such amount is due and payable provided, further, however, that so long as this Debt Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Debt Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-2
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Signatory |
A-3
Hennessy
Advisors, Inc.
[●]% Notes due 2026
This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture, dated as of October [●], 2021 (herein called the “Base Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated October [●], 2021, relating to the Securities, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “First Supplemental Indenture,” the First Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture collectively are herein called the “Indenture”). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.
This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to [thirty-five million] dollars (U.S. $[35,000,000]), or up to [forty million two hundred fifty thousand] dollars (U.S. $[40,250,000]) aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional Securities is exercised in full. Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case “Additional Securities”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities. Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.
The Securities of this series are subject to redemption in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after December 31, 2023 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest payments otherwise payable for the then-current quarterly interest period accrued to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and electronically delivered through The Depository Trust Company or mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Debt Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 4.02 of the Base Indenture.
Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Securities will be done in compliance with the Indenture.
If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities, the Trustee or, with respect to the Global Notes, the Depository will determine the method for selecting the particular Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Base Indenture and the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed, to the extent applicable. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities called for redemption.
Holders of Securities do not have the option to have the Securities repaid prior to December 31, 2026.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that the Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other entity or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless certain specified conditions set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture are satisfied.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee such indemnity, security or both as it may reasonably require against the costs, expenses and other liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, security or both, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding (and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07 of the Indenture). The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Debt Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Debt Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25.00 and any integral multiples of $25.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
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No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Trustee or the Debt Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee or the Debt Security Registrar and any agent of the Company, the Trustee or the Debt Security Registrar may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Debt Security Registrar, or any agent thereof shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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Exhibit 5.1
|
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE MILWAUKEE, WI 53202-5306 414.271.2400 TEL 414.297.4900 FAX WWW.FOLEY.COM |
October 12, 2021
Hennessy Advisors, Inc.
7250 Redwood Blvd., Suite 200
Novato, California 94945
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Hennessy Advisors, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-259750), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus constituting a part thereof (the “Prospectus”), initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on September 23, 2021, relating to the proposed offer and sale (the “Offering”) of up to $40,250,000 in aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). We understand that the Notes are to be sold to the underwriters for resale to the public as described in the Registration Statement and pursuant to an underwriting agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and among the Company and the underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and the exhibits constituting a part of the Registration Statement; (b) the Underwriting Agreement; (c) the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, each as filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; (d) the indenture (the “Base Indenture”), substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture thereto (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, establishing the terms of the Notes, to be entered into by and between the Company and the Trustee; (e) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Offering and the issuance of the Notes; and (f) such other proceedings, documents and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render this opinion. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents, certificates and instruments submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on.
Based upon the forgoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth in this opinion letter, it is our opinion that when (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) the Indenture has been duly executed and entered into and qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iii) the Notes have been sold in the manner set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, and (iv) the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company and the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
The opinion above is subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including without limitation the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
AUSTIN Boston CHICAGO dallas DENVER |
DETROIT houston JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES MADISON |
MEXICO CITY MIAMI MILWAUKEE NEW YORK ORLANDO |
SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SILICON VALLEY TALLAHASSEE |
TAMPA WASHINGTON, D.C. BRUSSELS TOKYO |
October 7, 2021
Page 2
We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the States of California and New York and the federal laws of the United States.
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is filed as part of the Registration Statement, and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Foley & Lardner LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. on Form S-1 Amendment No. 1 File No. 333-259750 of our report dated December 1, 2020, with respect to our audits of the financial statements of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 2020. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
Our report on the financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as amended, effective October 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
Costa Mesa, California
October 12, 2021
Exhibit 25.1
securities and exchange commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
Statement of Eligibility Under
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a
Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a
Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
31-0841368
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Brandon Bonfig
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
(651) 466-6619
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
California | 68-0176227 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
7250 Redwood Blvd., Suite 200 Novato, California |
94945 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.
a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C. 20219
b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.
Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.
1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.* | |
2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
3. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3. |
4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.** |
5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2021 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.
** Incorporated by reference to 305(b)(2), Registration Number 333-229783 filed on June 21, 2021.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota on the 7th of October, 2021.
By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
Brandon Bonfig | ||
Assistant Vice President |
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Exhibit 2
4
Exhibit 3
5
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: October 7, 2021
By: | /s/ Brandon Bonfig | |
Brandon Bonfig | ||
Assistant Vice President |
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Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
As of 6/30/2021
($000’s)
Assets | 6/30/2021 | |||
Assets | ||||
Cash and Balances Due From | $ | 44,435,957 | ||
Depository Institutions | ||||
Securities | 158,894,854 | |||
Federal Funds | 2,376 | |||
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables | 296,741,901 | |||
Fixed Assets | 6,294,698 | |||
Intangible Assets | 13,278,545 | |||
Other Assets | 28,204,350 | |||
Total Assets | $ | 547,852,681 | ||
Liabilities | ||||
Deposits | $ | 442,902,823 | ||
Fed Funds | 1,412,092 | |||
Treasury Demand Notes | 0 | |||
Trading Liabilities | 1,119,485 | |||
Other Borrowed Money | 31,883,676 | |||
Acceptances | 0 | |||
Subordinated Notes and Debentures | 3,600,000 | |||
Other Liabilities | 14,222,155 | |||
Total Liabilities | $ | 495,140,231 | ||
Equity | ||||
Common and Preferred Stock | 18,200 | |||
Surplus | 14,266,915 | |||
Undivided Profits | 37,622,248 | |||
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries | 805,087 | |||
Total Equity Capital | $ | 52,712,450 | ||
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | $ | 547,852,681 |
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