0001166928 false WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. 0001166928 2022-06-14 2022-06-14 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

United States

Securities And Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

Current Report Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(
d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 14, 2022

 

West Bancorporation, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Iowa 000-49677 42-1230603
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

1601 22nd Street
West Des Moines
, Iowa 50266
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (515) 222-2300

 

N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading symbol   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value   WTBA   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b–2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b–2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On June 14, 2022, West Bancorporation, Inc. (the “Company”) completed its previously announced underwritten public offering of $60.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of June 14, 2022 (the “Base Indenture”) and a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 14, 2022 to the Base Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

 

The Notes initially shall bear interest at an initial rate of 5.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2022. The last interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be June 15, 2027. From and including June 15, 2027 to, but excluding June 15, 2032 or the date of earlier redemption, the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark rate (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR), each as defined in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, plus 241 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2027. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark rate is less than zero, the Benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes at such times and at the redemption prices as provided for in the Indenture.

 

The foregoing description of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The above-mentioned offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236740) filed by the Company. A copy of the opinion of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP relating to the legality of the Notes is filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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

 

The disclosures above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K are also responsive to Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and are hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)         Exhibits

 

4.1 Indenture, dated June 14, 2022, between West Bancorporation, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee  
   
4.2 First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 14, 2022, between West Bancorporation, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee  
   
4.3 Form of 5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (included in Exhibit 4.2)  
   
5.1 Opinion of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
   
23.1 Consent of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

  

SignatureS

 

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

 

 

Date: June 14, 2022West Bancorporation, Inc.
  
By:/s/ Jane M. Funk
Name:Jane M. Funk
Title:Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

West bancorporation, Inc.

 

Issuer

 

and

 

Wilmington Trust, National
Association

 

Trustee

 

Indenture

 

Dated as of June 14, 2022

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.

 

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO

 

SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

 

Trust Indenture

 

Act Section Indenture Section
§310(a)(1) 609
(a)(2) 609
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(b) 608; 610
§311(a) 613
(b) 613
§312(a) 701; 702
(b) 702
(c) 702
§313(a) 703
(b) 703
(c) 703
(d) 703
§314(a) 704
(a)(4) 1004
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 102
(c)(2) 102
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 102

 

i 

 

 

§315(a) 601, 603
(b) 602
(c) 601
(d) 601
(e) 514
§316(a) 101
(a)(1)(A) 502; 512
(a)(1)(B) 513
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 508
(c) 104
§317(a)(1) 503
(a)(2) 504
(b) 1003
§318(a) 107

 

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

 

ii 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
   
Section 101. Definitions 1
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions 7
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 8
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates 8
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and the Company 9
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver 10
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 10
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 10
Section 109. Successors and Assigns 11
Section 110. Separability Clause; Entire Agreement 11
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture 11
Section 112. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; JURY TRIAL WAIVER 11
Section 113. Legal Holidays 11
Section 114. Language of Notices, Etc. 12
Section 115. Interest Limitation 12
Section 116. No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees or Shareholders 12
Section 117. Applicability of Depositary 13
Section 118. Force Majeure 13
   
Article II SECURITY FORMS 13
   
Section 201. Forms Generally 13
Section 202. Form of Face of Security 13
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security 16
Section 204. Global Securities 20
Section 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization 20
   
Article III THE SECURITIES 21
   
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 21
Section 302. Denominations 24
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 24
Section 304. Temporary Securities 26
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange 26
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 27
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 28
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners 29
Section 309. Cancellation 29
Section 310. Computation of Interest 30
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers 30
   
Article IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 30
   
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 30
Section 402. Application of Trust Money 31
   
Article V REMEDIES 31
   
Section 501. Events of Default 31
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 32
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 33
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 33

 

iii 

 

 

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 35
Section 506. Application of Money Collected 35
Section 507. Limitation on Suits 35
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest 36
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 36
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 36
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 36
Section 512. Control by Holders 37
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults 37
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs 37
   
Article VI THE TRUSTEE 38
   
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities 38
Section 602. Notice of Defaults 39
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee 39
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 40
Section 605. May Hold Securities 41
Section 606. Money Held in Trust 41
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement 41
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests 42
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 42
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 42
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 43
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 44
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company 45
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent 45
   
Article VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY 46
   
Section 701. The Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 46
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders 46
Section 703. Reports by Trustee 47
Section 704. Reports by the Company 47
   
Article VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 47
   
Section 801. The Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms 47
Section 802. Successor Substituted 48
   
Article IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 48
   
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 48
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 49
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures 50
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 50
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 50
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 50
   
Article X COVENANTS 51
   
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 51
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency 51
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust 51
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default 52
Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants 52

 

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Article XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 53
   
Section 1101. Applicability of Article 53
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 53
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed 53
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption 54
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price 54
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date 54
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part 55
   
Article XII SINKING FUNDS 55
   
Section 1201. Applicability of Article 55
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 55
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 55
   
Article XIII DEFEASANCE 56
   
Section 1301. Applicability of Article 56
Section 1302. Legal Defeasance 56
Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance 57
Section 1304. Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities 58
Section 1305. Repayment to the Company 59
Section 1306. Reinstatement 59
   
Article XIV SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES 59
   
Section 1401. Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt 59
Section 1402. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default 61
Section 1403. Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of Senior Debt 62
Section 1404. Payment Permitted If No Default 62
Section 1405. Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition 63
Section 1406. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 63
Section 1407. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt 63
Section 1408. Article Applicable to Paying Agents 63
Section 1409. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt 64
Section 1410. Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification 64
Section 1411. Modification of Subordination Provisions 64
Section 1412. Counterparts 64

 

v 

 

 

INDENTURE dated as of June 14, 2022, between WEST BANCORPORATION, INC., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”), having an office at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

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

 

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

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

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

 

Article I

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101. Definitions

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)            all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, 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 at the date of such computation;

 

(4)            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; and

 

(5)            the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors or the protection of creditors.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect thereof.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company or any other authorized officer of the Company or a Person duly authorized by any of them, 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”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location and in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

 

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

 

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

 

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Controller, Assistant Controller, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business relating to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which at the date hereof is Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890 Attn: West Bancorporation, Inc. Administrator.

 

-2-

 

 

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, partnerships (general or limited), limited liability companies, joint-stock companies and business trusts.

 

“Covenant defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

 

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

“Debt” means any debt for money borrowed.

 

“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

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

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

 

“Definitive Security” means a Security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

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

 

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

 

“Fiscal Year” means, with respect to the Company, each 12-month period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31; provided, however, that, with respect to a series of Securities, the first fiscal year will begin on the date such series of Securities is authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing if its fiscal year changes.

 

“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is registered in the name of the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(3).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” of a Person means a certificate signed by any two of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Person, or if such Person is a partnership, of its general partner, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers or such other Persons (as applicable) signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Person, or if such Person is a partnership, of its general partner.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, which opinion shall comply with the provisions of Sections 102 and 103. Such counsel shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)            Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

(4)            Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance as provided in Article XIII;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in Clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in Clause (C) above which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

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“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 301, the office or agency of the Company in the United States and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

-5-

 

 

“Senior Debt” means:

 

(i)            Any of the Company’s indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other written instruments, including any obligations of the Company to general creditors or trade creditors,

 

(ii)            The Company’s obligations under letters of credit,

 

(iii)            Any of the Company’s indebtedness or other obligations with respect to commodity contracts, interest rate and currency swap agreements, cap, floor, and collar agreements, currency spot and forward contracts, and other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates, and

 

(iv)            Any guarantees, endorsements (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), or other similar contingent obligations in respect of obligations of others of a type described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), whether or not such obligation is classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States,

 

in each case whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or incurred later, other than obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Reserve Board (or other competent regulatory agency or authority) promulgates any rule or issues any interpretation that defines general creditor(s), the main purpose of which is to establish a criteria for determining whether the subordinated debt of a bank holding company is to be included in its capital, then the term “general creditors” as used herein the definition of Senior Debt will have the meaning as described in that rule or interpretation.

 

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

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof; or any partnership of which more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class, is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or combination thereof.

 

“Tier 2 Capital Event” shall mean the receipt by the Company of an opinion of independent bank regulatory counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies of an applicable regulatory authority for the Company or (ii) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Securities, the Securities do not constitute, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not constitute, Tier 2 Capital (or its then equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies), as then in effect and applicable to the Company.

 

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“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as otherwise provided in Section 905; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

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

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, each of which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company, means any vice president of the Company, or when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president of the Trustee, whether or not, in each case, such term is modified by additional words before or after.

 

Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by officers of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is acceptable to the Trustee) by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is acceptable to the Trustee) to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security.

 

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The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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

 

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

 

The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

 

Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and the Company

 

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

 

(1)            the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made in writing and actually received by the Trustee at its office at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: West Bancorporation, Inc. Administrator, or at any other address previously furnished in writing by the Trustee, or

 

(2)            the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company, addressed to it at 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with notices, instructions, directions or other communications sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons reasonably believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company, and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company or any other Person arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reasonable reliance upon or compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications, notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties. The Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications transmitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture are complete and correct. Any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications shall be conclusively deemed to be valid instructions from the Company to the Trustee for the purposes of this Indenture.

 

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Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (if international mail, by air mail), to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing notices to Holders of Global Securities, shall be sufficiently given if such notices are given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary.

 

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

 

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

 

Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

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

 

Section 109. Successors and Assigns

 

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

 

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Section 110. Separability Clause; Entire Agreement

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Trustee, by its execution of this Indenture, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth. This Indenture, any supplemental indenture hereto and the exhibits hereto or thereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.

 

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture

 

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

 

Section 112. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; JURY TRIAL WAIVER

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the state of New York.

 

The parties hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES, THE HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

 

Section 113. Legal Holidays

 

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

 

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Section 114. Language of Notices, Etc.

 

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

 

Section 115. Interest Limitation

 

It is the intention of the Company to conform strictly to all applicable usury laws and any subsequent revisions, repeals or judicial interpretations thereof. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious under any applicable law then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Securities or this Indenture, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under applicable law with respect to a Security shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if the principal amount of such Security shall have been paid in full, refunded to the Company), to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (ii) in the event that the maturity of any Security is accelerated or in the event of any redemption of such Security, then such consideration that constitutes interest under applicable law may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law, and any excess shall be credited to the principal amount of such Security (or, if the principal amount of such Security shall be paid in full, refunded to the Company), to the extent permitted by applicable law. All calculations made to compute the rate of interest with respect to a Security for the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the maximum amount allowed by applicable law shall be made, to the extent permitted by such applicable law, by allocating and spreading during the period of the full stated term of such Security all interest any time contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Holder or by the Trustee on behalf of any such Holder in connection therewith so that the amount or rate of interest charged for any and all periods of time during the term of the Security does not exceed the maximum amount or rate of interest allowed to be charged by law during the relevant period of time. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if at any time applicable laws shall be changed so as to permit a higher rate or amount of interest to be charged than that permitted prior to such change, then unless prohibited by law, references in this Indenture or any Security to “applicable law” when used in the context of determining the maximum interest or rate of interest that can be charged shall be deemed to refer to such applicable law as so amended to allow the greater amount or rate of interest.

 

The right to accelerate maturity of any Security does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued to the date of such acceleration, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the continuing accrual after acceleration of interest in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Security.

 

Section 116. No Personal Liability of Officers, Directors, Employees or Shareholders

 

Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities hereunder are payable only out of cash flow and assets of the Company. The Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, will be deemed to have agreed in this Indenture that no director, officer, employee, or shareholder, as such, of the Company, the Trustee, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing entities shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture or such Securities by reason of his, her or its status. The agreements set forth in this Section are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.

 

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Section 117. Applicability of Depositary

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, so long as a series of Securities is a Global Security, the parties hereto will be bound at all times by the applicable procedures of the Depositary with respect to such series.

 

Section 118. Force Majeure

 

The Trustee shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God, earthquakes, fires, floods, civil or military disturbances, sabotage, epidemic, riots, interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications services, accidents, labor disputes, acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions, pandemic or war, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility); it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Article II

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 201. Forms Generally

 

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

 

The Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 202. Form of Face of Security

 

[Insert any legend required by the United States Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]

 

[If a Global Security, insert legend required by Section 204 of the Indenture]

 

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[If applicable, insert—UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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 IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.

 

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

 

NO. U.S.$
   
[CUSIP No. ]  

 

West Bancorporation, Inc., an Iowa corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _____________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________ United States Dollars [state other currency] on _____________ [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from _____________, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on _____________ and _____________ in each year, commencing _____________, at the rate of _____________% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of _____________% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. [If applicable, insert — The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.] The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the _____________ or _____________ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Company, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in such Indenture].

 

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[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of _____________% per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of _____________% per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

 

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in _____________ designated by the Holder 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 [state other currency].]

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of [(and premium, if any)] and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _____________, [in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of _____________ in _____________ and _____________ in _____________, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in _____________ (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least _____________ days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in _____________ [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the Record Date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Dated:__________________

 

  West Bancorporation, Inc.
   
  By:                             
    Name:
     
    Title:

 

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Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of _____________ (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the Holders of the Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the Indenture and the provisions of this Security, the provisions of the Indenture shall control. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert—, limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S.$ _____________].

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert—(1) on _____ in any year commencing with the year _____________ and ending with the year _____________ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after _____________], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert—on or before _____________, ____%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning _____________ of the years indicated,

 

Year Redemption Price Year Redemption Price
       
       

 

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

 

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[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, (1) on _____________ in any year commencing with the year _____________ and ending with the year _____________ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after _____________], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning _____________ of the years indicated,

 

Year Redemption Price for
Redemption Through
Operation
of the Sinking Fund
Redemption Price for Redemption
Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund
     
     

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—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.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to—insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (1) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable, and (2) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest, all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of not less than the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series to be affected (voting as one class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of any series then Outstanding to waive past defaults under the Indenture with respect to such series and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

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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, and if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or [any premium or] interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder, 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(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, except for Section 115 of the Indenture (which limits interest to the maximum amount permissible by law), the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture.

 

The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert — any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert— _____________ [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of _____________ in _____________ and in _____________ or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of U.S.$ [state other currency] and any integral multiple of U.S. $ 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 may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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

 

This Security is subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt, to the extent provided in the Indenture.

 

Obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Securities thereunder, including this Security, are payable only out of cash flow and assets of the Company. The Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance hereof, will be deemed to have agreed in the Indenture that no director, officer, employee, or shareholder, as such, of the Company, the Trustee, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing entities shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture or such Securities by reason of his, her or its status.

 

The Indenture contains provisions that relieve the Company from the obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants in the Indenture and for satisfaction and discharge at any time of the entire indebtedness upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

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

 

[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page—

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _______________________ (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee) the within instrument of West Bancorporation, Inc., and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Please Insert Social Security or 

Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

Dated:   (Signature)
     

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

(Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guaranty Medallion Program)

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]

 

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Section 204. Global Securities

 

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding Clause (9) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Sections 303, 304 and 305, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Section 205. Form of Trustee’s Certificate and Authorization

 

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

 

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

 

  Wilmington Trust, National Association
   
  As Trustee
   
  By:  
     
   
    Authorized Signatory
   
    Date:                 

 

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Article III

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

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

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution (and, subject to Section 303, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate or Company Order setting forth, or determining the manner of, such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

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

 

(2)            any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Sections 304, 305 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)            the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4)            the date or dates on which the Securities will be issued and on which the principal of, and premium, if any, on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

(5)            the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determination thereof, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(6)            the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices, and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

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(7)            the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise, if the Company is to have that option;

 

(8)            the obligation, if any, and the option, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

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

 

(10)            whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

 

(11)            the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be denominated, payable, redeemable or purchasable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

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

 

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

 

(14)            the right, if any, of the Company to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment periods and specify the duration of such extension, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and whether and under what circumstances additional interest on amounts deferred shall be payable;

 

(15)            if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504 or the method of determination thereof;

 

(16)            if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities (and whether in temporary or permanent global form) and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

 

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(17)            any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 501 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article X pertaining to the Securities of the series;

 

(18)            if and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be converted into or exchanged for securities, which may include, without limitation, capital stock, of any class or series of the Company;

 

(19)            if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, including, but not limited to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the Securities of that series are payable, or any other type of index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(20)            if other than as provided in Sections 1302 and 1303, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such series of Securities may be defeased or discharged;

 

(21)            if other than the Trustee, the identity of any other trustee, the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent;

 

(22)            any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of the Securities; and

 

(23)            any other terms of the Securities of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(3)).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

Any such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before the initial issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Indenture for all purposes relating to Securities of such series as fully as if such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate were set forth herein in full.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

 

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order, or that such terms shall be determined by the Company, or one or more of the Company’s agents designated in an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.

 

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Section 302. Denominations

 

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

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or any Vice President of the Company and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual, electronic or facsimile.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agents, thereafter promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

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

 

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

 

(3)            that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, which conditions are reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding; and

 

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(4)            such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request;

 

and, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, also stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has the power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary 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, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Opinion of Counsel or Board Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

With respect to Securities of a series not to be originally issued at one time, the Trustee may rely upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series and any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 for all purposes of this Indenture, such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 304. Temporary Securities

 

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon receipt of the documents required by Section 303, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities of like series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of exchanges of Securities of such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Company shall, prior to the issuance of any Securities hereunder, appoint the Trustee as the initial “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency. At all reasonable times the Security Register shall be available for inspection by the Trustee.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee thereof, and no such transfer may be registered, except as provided in this paragraph. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security, except as provided in this paragraph. If (1) (A) the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (B) a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (2) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of such series and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue certificated securities in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Securities of such series (in which case the Company shall deliver certificated securities within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Company determines in its sole discretion that Securities of a series issued in global form shall no longer be represented by a Global Security, then such Global Security may be exchanged by such Depositary for Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security or portion thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.

 

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

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

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. If, after the delivery of such new Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to whom it was delivered or any party taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company and the Trustee in connection therewith.

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

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

 

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series 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 Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)            The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Company 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 Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

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(2)            The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which such Securities may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

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

 

For each series of Securities, the Company shall, prior to 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on each payment date for principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, deposit with the Trustee money in immediately available funds sufficient to make cash payments due on the applicable payment date.

 

Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 309. Cancellation

 

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

 

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Section 310. Computation of Interest

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the number of days elapsed in any partial month.

 

Section 311. CUSIP Numbers

 

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

 

Article IV

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when

 

(1)          either

 

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

 

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

 

(i)            have become due and payable,

 

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

 

(iii)         are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for this purpose an amount of money in the currency or currency units in which such Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, (i) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 610 shall survive, and (ii) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and/or the Trustee under Sections 402, 606, 701 and 1002 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money

 

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

 

Article V

 

REMEDIES

 

Section 501. Events of Default

 

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

 

(1)            default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof); or

 

(2)            default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof); or

 

(3)            default in the performance, or breach, of any term, covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a term, covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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(4)          a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or similar official in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding relating to the Company, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(5)          the Company shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or other similar official in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding with respect to the Company; or

 

(6)          a “major subsidiary depository institution” of the Company, within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. § 217.20(d)(1)(vi), shall be the subject of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(4), Section 501(5) or Section 501(6) occurs, the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. The Maturity of the Notes shall not otherwise be accelerated as a result of an Event of Default.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1)          default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof), or

 

(2)          default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof),

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

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

 

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

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

 

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

 

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506. Application of Money Collected

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

Section 507. Limitation on Suits

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders (provided that the Trustee shall not be deemed to have an affirmative duty to determine whether any such direction affects, disturbs or prejudices the rights of any other Holder), or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

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

 

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

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

 

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

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

 

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Section 512. Control by Holders

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)            the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would otherwise be contrary to applicable law.

 

Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 514. Undertaking for Costs

 

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; provided, however, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee, in any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or in any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturity expressed by such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

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Article VI

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

(a)            Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(1)            the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)            in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, 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 conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(b)            In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such 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 such person’s own affairs.

 

(c)            No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1)            this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

 

(2)            the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(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 or 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; and

 

(4)            no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)            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 and Section 603.

 

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Section 602. Notice of Defaults

 

If a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any series and it is actually known to a responsible officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall, within the later of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after obtaining actual knowledge of it, transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of all uncured or unwaived Defaults actually known to it; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in payment on the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding the notice if and so a responsible officer of the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, further, however, that, in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default, except a default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof) or a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity (whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article XIV hereof) when the Trustee is also the Paying Agent, unless the Trustee shall have received from the Company or from any Holder written notice thereof at its Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities in this Indenture and states that it is a notice of Default or Event of Default. In the absence of any such notice, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Default exists.

 

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

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

 

(2)            any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (or in the case of a Periodic Offering, as agreed in procedures set forth in a Company Order pursuant to Section 303) and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3)            whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both;

 

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

 

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

 

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(6)            the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, without obligation to do so, make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(10)            in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental 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;

 

(11)            before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(12)            delivery of the reports and information under Section 704 and related provisions with respect to a series of Securities to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge 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 conclusively rely on an Officers’ Certificate); and

 

(13)            the permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties.

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

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

 

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Section 605. May Hold Securities

 

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

 

Section 606. Money Held in Trust

 

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

 

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement

 

The Company agrees:

 

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

 

(2)            to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(3)            to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity, and any other expenses, fees or charges of any character or nature incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the costs and expenses of enforcement of this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder (including attorneys’ fees and including any costs and expenses incurred to enforce its right to indemnity hereunder) whether brought by the Company, any Holder or any third party.

 

The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 607 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. In order to secure the Company’s obligations to the Trustee under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

 

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Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with any Default or Event of Default related to (1) a decree or order for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or similar official in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding relating to the Company, by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days, or (2) the Company’s consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or other similar official in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute administrative expenses for purposes of priority under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the repayment of the Securities, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance of the Securities.

 

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

 

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

There shall at all times be one or more Trustees hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, at least one of which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of a supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

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

 

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

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company at least 30 days prior to the requested date of removal. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the removed Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If at any time:

 

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

 

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(2)            the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)            the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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

 

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

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

 

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

 

(3)            Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

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

 

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

 

Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder and will have and succeed to the rights, powers, duties, immunities and privileges as its predecessor, provided such entity shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

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Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, or any other obligor upon the Securities, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any such other obligor.

 

Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

The Trustee (upon notice to the Company) may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue (in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Trustee) and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

      Wilmington Trust, National Association
As Trustee
       
Date:     By:  
        As Authenticating Agent 
       
      By:  
        Authorized Signatory

 

Article VII

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY

 

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

 

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

 

(1)            semi-annually, not later than 5 Business Days prior to each Interest Payment Date in each year, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding Regular Record Date, and

 

(2)            at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

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

 

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

 

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 703. Reports by Trustee

 

As promptly as practicable after each June 15 beginning with the June 15 following the date of this Indenture and in any event prior to August 15 in each year, so long as any Securities remain Outstanding hereunder, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of June 15 that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in the Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b). Prior to delivery to the Holders, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 703; provided, however, that no recourse may be taken against the Trustee for its failure to deliver a copy of such report to the Company prior to its delivery of the report to the Holders.

 

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

 

Section 704. Reports by the Company

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations, provided that with respect to any such information, documents, or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company intends to file such information, documents or reports with the Commission in electronic form in accordance with Regulation S-T of the Commission using the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system. Compliance with the foregoing, or any successor electronic system approved by the Commission, will constitute delivery by the Company of such reports to the Trustee and Holders in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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 actual or constructive knowledge or 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 shall be entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Article VIII

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

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

 

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

 

(1)            the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every other covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

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(2)            immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing;

 

(3)            if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby; and

 

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

 

Section 802. Successor Substituted

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and coupons and may liquidate and dissolve.

 

Article IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

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

 

(1)            to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and the assumption by such successor Person of the obligations of the Company hereunder;

 

(2)            to add covenants and Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of such Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred by this Indenture upon the Company or to make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect;

 

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(3)            to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only after there are no such Securities of any series entitled to the benefit of such provision outstanding;

 

(4)            to establish the forms or terms of the Securities of any series issued hereunder;

 

(5)            to cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or inconsistency in this Indenture;

 

(6)            to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities or otherwise;

 

(7)            to qualify this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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

 

(9)            to supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series as determined in good faith by the Company; and

 

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

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided that the Company and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1)            change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, on or the rate of interest thereon or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security into any other security, or alter the method of computation of interest;

 

(2)            reduce the percentage in principal amount of Securities required for any such supplemental indenture or for any waiver provided for in this Indenture;

 

(3)            change the Company’s obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment of Securities and the other matters specified herein;

 

(4)            impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Security;

 

(5)            modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of any Security in a manner adverse to the Holder thereof; or

 

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(6)            modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the execution of supplemental indentures with the consent of Holders of Securities which are discussed in this Section or modify any provisions relating to the waiver by Holders of Securities of past defaults and covenants, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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

 

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

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

 

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

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

 

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

 

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

 

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series. Failure to make a notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity and effect of any amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Article X

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

 

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

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands; provided that no office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Company for the purposes of service of legal process against the Company.

 

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

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, the Company hereby initially designates as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities to be the Corporate Trust Office, and initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent at its office at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose in such city.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and (3) during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

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

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the state which escheat laws control and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the state which escheat laws control for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 150 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer or signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1002 through 1004 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

A waiver which changes or eliminates any term, provision or condition of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such term, provision or condition, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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Article XI

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article

 

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

 

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, not less than 35 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (1) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (2) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, on a pro rata basis or by lot or such similar method in accordance with the procedures of DTC or by any other method which complies with any securities exchange or other applicable requirements for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

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Section 1104. Notice of Redemption

 

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

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)            the Redemption Date,

 

(2)            the Redemption Price,

 

(3)            if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

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

 

(5)            the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and

 

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

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 5 Business days prior to the requested date of delivery, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price

 

On or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

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

 

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If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

Article XII

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201. Applicability of Article

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

 

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

 

Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

 

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

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Article XIII

 

DEFEASANCE

 

Section 1301. Applicability of Article

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to each series of Securities except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

Section 1302. Legal Defeasance

 

In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 401, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in Clause (1) below, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and the Company’s right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor or on the specified redemption dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, Section 607), (v) the rights, if any, to convert or exchange the Securities of such series, (vi) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them, and (vii) the obligations of the Company under Section 1002), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon a Company Request, execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same, if the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”):

 

(1)            The Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, for the purposes of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, certified to be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (3) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

(2)            The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

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

 

(4)            No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

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

 

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

 

(7)            Such defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

(8)            The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company and any other obligor upon the Securities of such series shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire debt represented by the Securities of such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1304 and the rights and obligations referred to in Clauses (i) through (vii), inclusive, of the first paragraph of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned.

 

Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance

 

The Company and any other obligor shall be released on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in Clause (1) below from its obligations under Sections 704 and 801 with respect to the Securities of any series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, waiver, consent or declaration or other action or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Securities of such series, 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, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby. The following shall be the conditions to application of this Section 1303:

 

(1)            The Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of Holders of the Securities of such series, (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (i) the principal and interest and premium, if any, on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, interest or premium, if any, is due and payable or on any Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (2) below, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

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

 

(3)            No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(4)            The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel which shall confirm that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

(5)            Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act);

 

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

 

(7)            Such covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

(8)            The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

Section 1304. Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 (and all funds earned on such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations) shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to Holders of the particular Securities of such series for the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Subject to Sections 1302 and 1303, the Trustee shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Order any moneys held by it at any time, which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amounts required to effect the defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities in question.

 

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The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 1305. Repayment to the Company

 

The Trustee and any Paying Agent promptly shall pay or return to the Company upon Company Request any money and U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time that are not required for the payment of the principal of and any interest on the Securities of any series for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303, which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amounts required to effect the defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities in question.

 

Subject to applicable law, the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303.

 

Section 1306. Reinstatement

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 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 obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities of the applicable series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Indenture until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on any Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

Article XIV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1401. Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt

 

The Company covenants and agrees that anything in this Indenture or the Securities of any series to the contrary notwithstanding, the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of each series is subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent provided in this Indenture, and each Holder of Securities of each series, by such Holder’s acceptance of such Securities, likewise covenants and agrees to the subordination provided in this Indenture and shall be bound by the provisions of this Indenture. Senior Debt shall continue to be Senior Debt and entitled to the benefits of these subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification, or waiver of any term of the Senior Debt or extension or renewal of the Senior Debt.

 

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In the event of

 

(a)            any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition, or other similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property,

 

(b)            any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution, or other winding up of the Company, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,

 

(c)            any assignment by the Company for the benefit of creditors, or

 

(d)            any other marshaling of the assets of the Company,

 

all Senior Debt (including any interest on such Senior Debt accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities, or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the Securities on account of such Securities. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities, or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect of such Senior Debt under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt (including any interest on such Senior Debt accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall have been paid in full. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property, or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations. The rights of holders of Senior Debt under this Section do not extend to any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, to the extent applied to the Trustee’s rights to compensation, reimbursement of expenses, liabilities or indemnification.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities, or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect of such Senior Debt under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms of this Indenture such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for applications to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution, or security, each holder of Senior Debt is irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.

 

No present or future holder of any Senior Debt shall be prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company. Nothing contained in this Indenture shall impair, as between the Company and the Holders of Securities of each series, the obligation of the Company to pay to such Holders the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities or prevent the Trustee or the Holder from exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or under this Indenture upon a default or Event of Default, all subject to the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt to receive cash, securities, or other property otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holders.

 

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Senior Debt shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities, or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Debt then outstanding. Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the Holders of Securities of each series shall be subrogated to all rights of any holders of Senior Debt to receive any further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Debt until the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of such series shall have been paid in full, and such payments or distributions received by such Holders, by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities, or other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior Debt shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, on the one hand, and such Holders, on the other hand, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of Senior Debt, and not on account of the Securities of such series.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Article XIV contained, at any time after the 123rd day following the date of deposit of money and U.S. Government Obligations pursuant to Article IV or XIII (provided all conditions set out in the applicable Article shall have been satisfied), the funds (including U.S. Government Obligations) so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject to any rights of holders of Senior Debt including, without limitation, those arising under this Article XIV; provided that no event described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 501 has occurred during such 123-day period.

 

The provisions of this Section 1401 shall not impair any rights, interests, remedies, or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 1402. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default

 

In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Senior Debt beyond any applicable grace period with respect to such Senior Debt, or in the event that any event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Senior Debt (or the trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders of such Senior Debt) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist and any such declaration and its consequences shall have been rescinded or annulled, or in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default, then no payment (including any payment which may be payable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of the Securities) shall be made by the Company on account of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities, provided, however, that nothing in this Section 1402 shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article XII by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 1202 Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default in payment or event of default.

 

Subject to Section 1405, in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 1402, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known in a writing delivered to a responsible officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office by a holder of Senior Debt or the Company or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered to the Company.

 

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The provisions of this Section 1402 shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 1401 would be applicable.

 

Section 1403. Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of Senior Debt

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon an order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization or arrangement proceedings are pending or upon a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount of or payable on and the amount or amounts paid or distributed on such Senior Debt or other indebtedness, and all other facts pertinent to such Senior Debt or other indebtedness or to this Article XIV. In the absence of any such bankruptcy trustee, receiver, assignee, or other Person, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a written notice by a Person representing itself, himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) as evidence that such Person is a holder of such Senior Debt (or is such a trustee or representative), the amount of or payable on and the amount or amounts paid or distributed on such Senior Debt or other indebtedness, and all other facts pertinent to such Senior Debt or other indebtedness. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payments or distributions pursuant to this Article XIV, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XIV, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may withhold any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive payment. The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall pay over or deliver to the Holders or the Company or any other Person, cash, securities, or other property to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

 

Section 1404. Payment Permitted If No Default

 

Nothing contained in this Article XIV (except in Section 1405) or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall prevent (a) the Company at any time, except during the pendency of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation, or reorganization proceedings referred to in Section 1401 or under the conditions specified in Section 1402, from making payments of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or (b) the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it under this Indenture to payments of the principal of or interest on the Securities, if, at the time of such deposit, a responsible officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, had not received at the Corporate Trust Office the Officers’ Certificate or written notice provided for in Section 1405 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit, or if, at the time of such deposit (whether or not in trust) by the Company with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) such payment would not have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article, and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received by it on or after such date.

 

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Section 1405. Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition

 

Anything in this Article XIV or elsewhere contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee, and shall be entitled conclusively to assume that no such facts exist and that no event specified in Section 1401 or Section 1402 has happened, unless and until a responsible officer of the Trustee shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office (i) an Officers’ Certificate to that effect or (ii) notice in writing to that effect signed by or on behalf of the holder or holders, or their representatives, of Senior Debt who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or holders or representatives or from any trustee under any indenture pursuant to which such Senior Debt shall be outstanding; and before the receipt of any such Officers’ Certificate or written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the Officers’ Certificate or the written notice provided for in this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security) then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have all power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it during or after such three (3) Business Day period.

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Paying Agent of any facts which would prohibit the payment of money or assets to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

 

Section 1406. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination

 

Each Holder of Securities by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as between such Holder and holders of Senior Debt as provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 1407. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt

 

The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at the time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Article shall deprive the Trustee of any rights as such holder.

 

Section 1408. Article Applicable to Paying Agents

 

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting under this Indenture, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if the Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee, provided, however, that Sections 1405 and 1407 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

 

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Section 1409. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt

 

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided in this Indenture shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions, and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. The holders of Senior Debt may, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion, change the manner, place, or terms of payment, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any such Senior Debt, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which any such Senior Debt is issued or by which it may be secured, or release any security, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights under the Senior Debt including, without limitation, the waiver of default, all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee and without affecting the obligations of the Company, the Trustee, or the Holders of the Securities under this Article.

 

Section 1410. Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification

 

Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 506 or 607, or otherwise in connection with any compensation, reimbursement or indemnification afforded the Trustee in connection with the Indenture.

 

Section 1411. Modification of Subordination Provisions

 

Anything in Article IX or elsewhere contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, no modification or amendment and no supplemental indenture shall modify the subordination provisions of this Article XIV in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Senior Debt.

 

Section 1412. Counterparts

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmissions shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or 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, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed in multiple counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall together constitute but one and the same instrument, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.
   
  By:   /s/ Jane M. Funk                                   
  Name:   Jane M. Funk
  Title:   Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
   
  By:   /s/ Michael H. Wass
  Name:   Michael H. Wass
  Title:   Vice President

 

 

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Exhibit 4.2

 

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.,
Company,

 

AND

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee

 

FIRST
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE

 

Dated as of

 

June 14, 2022

 

TO

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of

 

June 14, 2022

 

5.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2032

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I DEFINITIONS 2
     
Section 101. Definitions 2
     
Article II GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES 8
     
Section 201. Designation and Principal Amount 8
Section 202. Form and Denomination of Notes 8
Section 203. Initial Limit on Amount of Series 8
Section 204. Rank; Subordination 8
Section 205. Further Issues Without Holders’ Consent 8
Section 206. Form and Payment 8
Section 207. Interest 9
Section 208. No Sinking Fund 12
Section 209. Notes Not Convertible or Exchangeable 12
Section 210. Global Securities 12
Section 211. No Additional Amounts 12
     
Article III ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES 12
     
Section 301. Original Issue of Notes 12
     
Article IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 13
     
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 13
     
Article V REMEDIES 14
     
Section 501. Events of Default 14
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 14
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 15
Section 512. Control by Holders 16
     
Article VI DEFEASANCE 16
     
Section 601. Defeasance Applicable to Notes 16
     
Article VII REDEMPTION 16
     
Section 701. Redemption 16
Section 702. Effect of Notice of Redemption 17
     
Article VIII MISCELLANEOUS 17
     
Section 801. Ratification of Indenture 17
Section 802. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 17
Section 803. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 17
Section 804. Successors and Assigns 17
Section 805. Separability Clause; Entire Agreement 18
Section 806. Benefits of Indenture 18
Section 807. Governing Law 18
Section 808. Waiver of Jury Trial 18
Section 809. Consent to Jurisdiction 18
Section 810. Counterparts 19
Section 811. Trustee 19
Section 812. USA PATRIOT Act 19
     
Article IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 19
     
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 19
Section 902. Supplemental Indenture With Consent of Holders 21
Section 1411. Modification of Subordination Provisions 21

 

i 

 

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of June 14, 2022 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), between West Bancorporation, Inc., an Iowa corporation having an address at 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term shall include any successors pursuant to the terms of this Supplemental Indenture), and Wilmington Trust National Association, a national banking association having a corporate trust office at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, as trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered the Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of June 14, 2022, to the Trustee, to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series;

 

WHEREAS, no Securities have been issued under the Base Indenture as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of a series of its Securities under the Base Indenture to be known as its “5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032” (the “Notes”), the form and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture (the Base Indenture, together with this Supplemental Indenture, referred to herein as this “Indenture”);

 

WHEREAS, the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to authority granted to it by the Board of Directors of the Company on May 25, 2022 and resolutions duly adopted by the Pricing Committee on June 9, 2022, after consultation with, and advice from, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has duly authorized the issuance of the Notes and the amendments to the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes provided for in this Supplemental Indenture, and has authorized the proper officers of the Company to execute any and all appropriate documents necessary or appropriate to effect each such issuance;

 

WHEREAS, this Supplemental Indenture is being entered into pursuant to the provisions of Section 201, Section 301 and Section 901 of the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, and to make each of the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or an authentication agent, the valid obligations of the Company, have been performed, and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Base Indenture, the forms and terms of the Notes, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:

 

 

 

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 101.      Definitions.

 

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

 

(a)            all references in this instrument to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to be designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this Supplemental Indenture unless the context otherwise requires; the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(b)            each term defined in the Base Indenture has the same meaning when used in this Supplemental Indenture, except to the extent specifically defined herein, in which case the meaning ascribed to it in this Supplemental Indenture shall control; and

 

(c)            Section 101 of the Base Indenture is amended and supplemented, solely with respect to the Notes, by inserting the following additional defined terms in their appropriate alphabetical positions:

 

Administrative or Judicial Action” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Tax Event.”

 

Bank” means:

 

(1)            any institution organized under the laws of the United States, any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or the Virgin Islands which

 

(A)            accepts deposits that the depositor has a legal right to withdraw on demand, and

 

(B)            engages in the business of making commercial loans, or

 

(2)            any trust company organized under any of the foregoing laws.

 

Benchmark” means, initially, Three-Month Term SOFR; provided that if the Calculation Agent determines on or prior to the Reference Time that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.

 

Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark; provided that if (a) the Calculation Agent cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date or (b) the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR (in which event no Interpolated Benchmark with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR shall be determined), then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

2 

 

 

(1)            Compounded SOFR;

 

(2)            the sum of: (a) the alternate rate that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(3)            the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate, and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(4)            the sum of: (a) the alternate rate that has been selected by the Calculation Agent as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time, and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(1)            the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

 

(2)            if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and

 

(3)            the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Calculation Agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.

 

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “interest period,” timing and frequency of determining rates with respect to each interest period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Calculation Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Calculation Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Calculation Agent determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Calculation Agent determines is reasonably necessary).

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1)            in the case of clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the relevant Reference Time in respect of any determination;

 

(2)            in the case of clause (2) or (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or

 

3 

 

 

(3)            in the case of clause (4) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the definitions of Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Event, references to the Benchmark also include any reference rate underlying the Benchmark (for example, if the Benchmark becomes Compounded SOFR, references to the Benchmark would include SOFR).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date shall be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(1)            if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, (a) the Relevant Governmental Body has not selected or recommended a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR, (b) the development of a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR that has been recommended or selected by the Relevant Governmental Body is not complete or (c) the Company determines that the use of a forward-looking rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR is not administratively feasible;

 

(2)            a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;

 

(3)            a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or

 

(4)            a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

 

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which the Trustee or banking institutions in the City of New York or in the Place of Payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Calculation Agent” means the agent appointed by the Company prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate Period (which may include the Company or any of its Affiliates) to act in accordance with Section 207. The Company shall initially act as the Calculation Agent.

 

Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate being established by the Calculation Agent in accordance with:

 

(1)            the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded SOFR; provided that:

 

(2)            if, and to the extent that, the Calculation Agent determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by the Calculation Agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment (if applicable) and the spread of 241 basis points per annum.

 

Corresponding Tenor” means (i) with respect to Term SOFR, three months, and (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

Events of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 501.

 

Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any successors thereto.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

 

Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date” has the meaning provided in Section 207(a).

 

Fixed Rate Period” has the meaning provided in Section 207(a).

 

Fixed Rate Regular Record Date” has the meaning provided in Section 207(a).

 

Floating Rate Interest Payment Date” has the meaning provided in Section 207(b).

 

Floating Rate Period” has the meaning provided in Section 207(b).

 

Floating Rate Regular Record Date” has the meaning provided in Section 207(b).

 

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning provided in Section 207(b).

 

interest period” means the period from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from and including the Issue Date to, but excluding, the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date or date of earlier redemption, if applicable.

 

Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined by the Calculation Agent for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between: (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor, and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor.

 

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ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

 

ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

 

ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

 

Issue Date” means June 14, 2022.

 

Maturity Date” has the meaning provided in Section 202.

 

Notice of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 503(c).

 

Principal Subsidiary Bank” means (i) any Subsidiary Bank the consolidated assets of which as set forth in the most recent statement of condition of such Subsidiary Bank constitute 40% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets as determined from the most recent quarterly balance sheet of the Company or (ii) any Subsidiary Bank designated as a Principal Subsidiary Bank by the Board of Directors, provided that if the Federal Reserve notifies the Company that any Subsidiary Bank that is a Principal Subsidiary Bank applying the tests in clause (i) or (ii) above does not qualify as a “major subsidiary depository institution” within the requirements of the Federal Reserve’s risk-based capital guidelines or regulations applicable to bank holding companies, such Subsidiary Bank shall not be a Principal Subsidiary Bank from and after the time the Company receives from the Federal Reserve such a notice.

 

Redemption Date” has the meaning provided in Section 701.

 

Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.

 

SOFR” means the secured overnight financing rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the Benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.

 

Subsidiary Bank” means any Subsidiary which is a Bank.

 

Tax Event” means the receipt by the Company of an opinion of independent tax counsel to the effect that as a result of (a) an amendment to or change (including any announced prospective amendment or change) in any law or treaty, or any regulation thereunder, of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities; (b) a judicial decision, administrative action, official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, regulation, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt or promulgate any ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation (any of the foregoing, an “Administrative or Judicial Action”); (c) an amendment to or change in any official position with respect to, or any interpretation of, an Administrative or Judicial Action or a law or regulation of the United States that differs from the previously generally accepted position or interpretation; or (d) a threatened challenge asserted in writing in connection with an audit of the Company’s federal income tax returns or positions or a similar audit of any of its Subsidiaries, or a publicly known threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Notes, in each case, which change or amendment or challenge becomes effective or which pronouncement, decision or challenge is announced on or after the original issue date of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by the Company on the Notes is not, or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

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Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

Term SOFR Administrator” means any entity designated by the Relevant Governmental Body as the administrator of Term SOFR (or a successor administrator).

 

Three-Month Term SOFR” means the rate for Term SOFR for a tenor of three months that is published by the Term SOFR Administrator at the Reference Time for any interest period, as determined by the Calculation Agent after giving effect to the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-Month Term SOFR shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005% rounded up to 0.00001%.

 

Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions” means any determination, decision or election with respect to any technical, administrative or operational matter (including with respect to the manner and timing of the publication of Three-Month Term SOFR, or changes to the definition of “interest period,” timing and frequency of determining Three-Month Term SOFR with respect to each interest period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Calculation Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Calculation Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Calculation Agent determines that no market practice for the use of Three-Month Term SOFR exists, in such other manner as the Calculation Agent determines is reasonably necessary).

 

Tier 2 Capital Event” means the Company’s good faith determination that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agency or instrumentality of the United States, including the Federal Reserve and other federal bank regulatory agencies) or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the original issue date of the Notes; (b) any proposed change in those laws, rules or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the original issue date of the Notes; or (c) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws, rules, regulations, policies or guidelines with respect thereto that is announced after the original issue date of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not be entitled to treat the Notes then outstanding as “Tier 2 Capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy rules or regulations of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy rules or regulations of any successor appropriate federal banking agency) as then in effect and applicable to the Company, for so long as any Notes are outstanding.

 

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

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Article II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

 

Section 201.      Designation and Principal Amount. There is hereby authorized and established a series of Securities under this Indenture, designated as the “5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032.”

 

Section 202.      Form and Denomination of Notes. The definitive form of the Notes and the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, which is incorporated herein and made part hereof. The Notes shall bear interest and have such other terms as are stated in the form of definitive Notes or in this Indenture. The Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be June 15, 2032 (the “Maturity Date”). The Notes shall be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 203.      Initial Limit on Amount of Series. The Notes shall initially be limited to U.S. $60,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, and may, upon the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture or from time to time thereafter, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes to or upon the delivery of a Company Order. Following the initial issuance of the Notes, the aggregate principal amount of Notes may be increased as provided in Section 205 hereof.

 

Section 204.      Rank; Subordination. The Notes are unsecured and shall rank subordinate and junior, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Indenture, in right of payment and upon liquidation of all the Company’s obligations to the holders of Senior Debt of the Company. The Notes shall rank equally among themselves and with all of the Company’s other subordinated unsecured indebtedness that, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, provides that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Notes or to other indebtedness that is pari passu with, or is not subordinate to, the Notes. It is intended that the Notes be and are Tier 2 Capital or the equivalent, for all regulatory purposes.

 

Section 205.      Further Issues Without Holders’ Consent. The Company may, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, but in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, create and issue additional Notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes (other than the date of issuance, the issue price, the initial interest accrual date and the first Interest Payment Date). Any such additional Notes shall rank equally and ratably with the Notes. Any such additional Notes, together with the Notes initially issued hereunder, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, no additional Notes may be issued unless (1) the additional Notes will be fungible with the Notes initially issued hereunder for United States securities law purposes, (2) (a) the additional Notes are issued pursuant to a “qualified reopening” of the Notes initially issued hereunder for United States federal income tax purposes, or (b) the Notes initially issued hereunder were, and the additional Notes are, issued without any original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes and (3) the additional Notes have the same CUSIP number as the Notes initially issued hereunder. No additional Notes may be issued if any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 206.      Form and Payment. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable in U.S. Dollars. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all such amounts then due. At the option of the Company, interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled to such interest as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

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Section 207.      Interest.

 

(a)            The Notes shall bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.25% per annum from and including June 14, 2022 to, but excluding, June 15, 2027 or any earlier Redemption Date (the “Fixed Rate Period”). Interest accrued on the Notes during the Fixed Rate Period shall be payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2022 (each such date, a “Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date”). The last Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date shall be June 15, 2027, unless the Notes are earlier redeemed. The interest payable on each Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date during the Fixed Rate Period shall be paid to each Holder in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Fixed Rate Regular Record Date”), except that interest that is paid at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal shall be payable.

 

(b)            The Notes shall bear a floating interest rate from, and including June 15, 2027, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or earlier Redemption Date (the “Floating Rate Period”). The floating interest rate shall be reset quarterly, and the interest rate for any Floating Rate Period shall be equal to the then-current Three-Month Term SOFR plus 241 basis points for each quarterly interest period during the Floating Rate Period. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Notes shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2027 (each such date, a “Floating Rate Interest Payment Date” and, together with a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, an “Interest Payment Date”). The interest payable on each Floating Rate Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period shall be paid to each Holder in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Floating Rate Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Floating Rate Regular Record Date”), except that interest that is paid at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal shall be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Three-Month Term SOFR (or other applicable Benchmark) is less than zero, then Three-Month Term SOFR (or other such Benchmark) shall be deemed to be zero. The Calculation Agent shall provide the Company and the Trustee with the interest rate in effect on the Notes promptly after the Reference Time (or such other date of determination for the applicable Benchmark) and the Company shall provide written notice to the Holders of the Notes of the interest rate in effect on the Notes promptly thereafter.

 

(c)            The amount of interest payable on any Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date during the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months to, but excluding, June 15, 2027, and, the amount of interest payable on any Floating Rate Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed. The Company or the Calculation Agent, as applicable, shall calculate the amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date and the Trustee shall have no duty to confirm or verify any such calculation. In the event that any scheduled Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date for the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date or of principal and interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (any payment made on such date shall be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after such scheduled Interest Payment Date); provided, that in the event that any scheduled Floating Rate Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day and the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date shall be accelerated to the immediately preceding Business Day, and, in each such case, the amounts payable on such Business Day shall include interest accrued to, but excluding, such Business Day. Dollar amounts resulting from interest calculations shall be rounded to the nearest cent, with one half cent being rounded upward.

 

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(d)            The Company shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that from the commencement of the Floating Rate Period for so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding there shall at all times be a Calculation Agent appointed to calculate Three-Month Term SOFR in respect of each Floating Rate Period and to determine and calculate any interest in respect of any Benchmark Replacement. The calculation of Three-Month Term SOFR for each applicable Floating Rate Period by the Calculation Agent shall (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding. The Trustee will have no duty to confirm or verify any such calculation. By its acquisition of the Notes, each Holder of Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each beneficial owner) will acknowledge, accept, consent to and agree to be bound by the Calculation Agent’s determination of interest rate for each floating rate interest period, including the Calculation Agent’s determination of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, Benchmark Replacement Date, Benchmark Replacement, Benchmark Replacement Adjustment or Benchmark Transition Event, including as may occur without any prior notice from the Company or the Calculation Agent and without the need for the Company or the Calculation Agent to obtain any further consent from any Holder. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate and its calculation of interest payments for any period shall be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices, shall be made available to any Holder of the Notes by the Company upon request and shall be provided to the Trustee (for informational purposes only). The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether any manifest error has occurred, may conclusively assume that no such manifest error exists and shall not be liable in so assuming. The Calculation Agent shall have all the rights, protections and indemnities afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture. The Calculation Agent may be removed by the Company at any time. If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as Calculation Agent or is removed by the Company, the Company shall promptly appoint a replacement Calculation Agent. The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties without a successor having been duly appointed; provided, that if a successor Calculation Agent has not been appointed by the Company and such successor accepted such position within 30 days after the giving of notice of resignation by the Calculation Agent, then the resigning Calculation Agent may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Calculation Agent with respect to such series. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor compliance or see to the performance by the Calculation Agent of any of its obligations in respect of the Notes or to perform such obligations, and shall not be under any duty to succeed to, assume or otherwise perform, any duties of the Calculation Agent, or to appoint a successor or replacement in the event of the Calculation Agent’s resignation or removal or to replace the Calculation Agent in the event of a default, breach or failure of performance on the part of the Calculation Agent with respect to the Calculation Agent’s duties and obligations hereunder. Under no circumstances will the Trustee be responsible for selecting or determining any Benchmark Replacement if the Benchmark will no longer be available following a Benchmark Transaction Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date. In the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the Company will select the Benchmark Replacement prior to the Benchmark Replacement Date and in consultation with the Calculation Agent, ensuring that the Calculation Agent will be able to meet its obligations and requirements under the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, with respect to the Benchmark Replacement. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time there is no Calculation Agent appointed by the Company, or the Calculation Agent appointed by the Company is unable or unwilling to perform its duties hereunder, then the Company shall be the Calculation Agent. The Company may appoint itself or any of its Affiliates to be the Calculation Agent.

 

(e)

 

(1)            If the Calculation Agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, then the Benchmark Replacement shall replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes during the Floating Rate Period in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Calculation Agent shall have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.

 

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(2)            Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section 207(b) above, if the Calculation Agent determines on or prior to the relevant Reference Time that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR, then the provisions set forth in this Section 207(e) shall thereafter apply to all determinations of the interest rate on the Notes during the Floating Rate Period. After a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, the interest rate on the Notes for each interest period during the Floating Rate Period shall be an annual rate equal to the Benchmark Replacement plus 241 basis points.

 

(3)            The Calculation Agent is expressly authorized to make the determinations, decisions and elections set forth in the terms of the Notes, including with respect to the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark, and in this Section 207(e). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Calculation Agent under the terms of the Notes, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or selection (A) shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee absent manifest error, (B) if made by the Company as Calculation Agent, shall be made in the Company’s sole discretion, (C) if made by a Calculation Agent other than the Company, shall be made after consultation with the Company, and the Calculation Agent shall not make any such determination, decision or election to which the Company reasonably objects and (D) notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Base Indenture, shall become effective without consent from the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee or any other party. If the Calculation Agent fails to make any determination, decision or election that it is required to make under the terms of the Notes, then the Company shall make such determination, decision or election on the same basis as described above.

 

(4)            The Company (or its Calculation Agent) shall notify the Trustee in writing (for informational purposes only) (i) upon the occurrence of the Benchmark Transition Event and the Benchmark Replacement Date, and (ii) of any Benchmark Replacements, Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and other items affecting the interest rate on the Notes after a Benchmark Transition Event.

 

(5)            The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the actions or omissions of the Calculation Agent hereunder, or any failure or delay in the performance of the Calculation Agent’s duties or obligations, nor shall it be under any obligation to monitor or oversee the performance of the Calculation Agent. For the avoidance of doubt (and without limitation of the foregoing), the Trustee (including in its capacity as Paying Agent) shall have no (i) responsibility or liability for the (A) Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, (B) selection of an alternative reference rate to Three-Month Term SOFR (including, without limitation, whether the conditions for the designation of such rate have been satisfied or whether such rate is a Benchmark Replacement or an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement), (C) determination or calculation of a Benchmark Replacement, or (D) determination of whether a Benchmark Transition Event or Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred, and in each such case under clauses (A) through (D) above shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the selection, determination, and/or calculation thereof as provided by the Company or its Calculation Agent, as applicable, and (ii) liability for any failure or delay in performing its duties hereunder as a result of the unavailability of a Benchmark rate as described in the definition thereof, including, without limitation, as a result of the Company’s or Calculation Agent’s failure to select a Benchmark Replacement or the Calculation Agent’s failure to calculate a Benchmark or for the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance, or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection related to rate-setting or with respect to any delay caused by the Calculation Agent’s failure to timely or appropriately determine a Benchmark. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively on all notices from the Company or its Calculation Agent regarding any Benchmark or Benchmark Replacement, including, without limitation, in regards to Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, a Benchmark Transition Event, Benchmark Replacement Date, and Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. All notices received hereunder by the Trustee from the Calculation Agent and all notices received by the Trustee from the Company pursuant to this Section 207(e) shall be for informational purposes only and shall not require the Trustee to take any action in respect thereof. The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any determination made, and any instruction, notice, Officers’ Certificate or other instruction or information provided by the Calculation Agent without independent verification, investigation or inquiry of any kind. The Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any amendment or supplement hereto that adversely impacts its rights, duties, obligations, immunities or liabilities (including, without limitation, in connection with the adoption of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes).

 

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(6)            If the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the Calculation Agent shall have the right to establish the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and if any of the foregoing provisions concerning the calculation of the interest rate and the payment of interest during the Floating Rate Period are inconsistent with any of the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions determined by the Calculation Agent, then the relevant Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions shall apply.

 

Section 208.      No Sinking Fund. No sinking fund shall be provided with respect to the Notes. In no event shall any Holder of the Notes have the right to require the Company to call, redeem or repurchase the Notes, in whole or in part, and Article XII of the Base Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes. Nothing in this Section 208 shall limit the ability of Holders of Notes to enforce their rights to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes at maturity as provided in the Notes and in the Base Indenture, including Section 508 of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 209.      Notes Not Convertible or Exchangeable. The Notes shall not be convertible or exchangeable for other securities or property.

 

Section 210.      Global Securities. The Notes shall be issued as Securities and in the form of one or more permanent global Securities, without coupons, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. The initial Depositary for the Notes shall be DTC. Except as otherwise provided in Section 305 of the Base Indenture, the global Securities described above may be transferred by the Depositary, in whole but not in part, only to a nominee of the Depositary, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary. Owners of beneficial interests in such global Securities shall not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under this Indenture. The rights of owners of beneficial interests in such global Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary.

 

Section 211.      No Additional Amounts. In the event that any payment on the Notes is subject to withholding of any U.S. federal income tax or other tax or assessment (as a result of a change in law or otherwise), the Company shall not pay additional amounts with respect to such tax or assessment.

 

Article III
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES

 

Section 301.      Original Issue of Notes. The Notes may, upon execution of this Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Notes as in such Company Order provided.

 

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Article IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

With respect to the Notes only, Section 401 of the Base Indenture is hereby replaced with the following:

 

Section 401.      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture, including the provisions of Article XIV of the Base Indenture as modified hereby (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes expressly provided for in this Indenture), shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to the Notes, when

 

(a)            either:

 

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

 

(2)            all such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(A)            have become due and payable,

 

(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,

 

and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 of the Base Indenture), for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(b)            the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by the Company under this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(c)            the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 of the Base Indenture, the obligations (if any) of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 of the Base Indenture and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2) of Clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 of the Base Indenture and the last paragraph of Section 1003 of the Base Indenture shall survive.

 

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Article V
REMEDIES

 

With respect to the Notes only, the limitations set forth in Section 507 of the Base Indenture do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of Notes for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on the Notes on or after the Maturity Date.

 

With respect to the Notes only, Sections 501, 502, 503 and 512 of the Base Indenture are hereby replaced with the following:

 

Section 501.      Events of Default.

 

Events of Default,” wherever used in this Indenture with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, 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):

 

(a)            a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank is appointed for the Company or for any substantial part of its property or for a Principal Subsidiary Bank, or a court or a bank regulatory authority having jurisdiction in the premises, shall appoint a receiver or similar official, or order the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(b)            the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in any involuntary case under any such law, or the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank or for any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

Section 502.      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default under clause (a) or (b) of Section 501 hereof with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal of all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration has been made with respect to the Notes and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided in Article V of this Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may waive all defaults with respect to all affected series, and may rescind and annul such declaration and the consequences of the Event of Default if:

 

(a)            the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (1) all overdue interest on all Notes, (2) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Notes which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest on such Notes at the rate or rates prescribed herein and in the Notes, and (3) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel; and

 

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(b)            all defaults and Events of Default with respect to the Notes, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513 of the Base Indenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any consequent right.

 

Except for an Event of Default specified in Section 501(a) or 501(b), no other default, or failure to perform, or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company, shall result in a right to accelerate the principal or interest due under the Securities then Outstanding.

 

Section 503.      Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:

 

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

 

(b)            default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note at its Maturity and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(c)            default is made in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series), and such default or breach continues for a period of 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under this Indenture, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed in such Securities, and, in addition, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel. If the Company fails to pay such amounts immediately upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Notes, wherever situated. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of the Notes 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 in this Indenture, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

15 

 

 

Section 512.      Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes 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 Notes, provided that:

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of the Notes (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders); and

 

(g)            the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Article VI
DEFEASANCE

 

Section 601.      Defeasance Applicable to Notes. Pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, provision is hereby made for defeasance of the Notes under Section 1301 of the Base Indenture upon the terms and conditions contained in Article XIII of the Base Indenture.

 

Article VII
REDEMPTION

 

Section 701.      Redemption. The Notes shall be redeemable, in each case, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the option of the Company beginning with the Interest Payment Date on June 15, 2027, but not prior thereto (except upon the occurrence of certain events specified below), and on any Interest Payment Date thereafter (each, a “Redemption Date”), subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve. The Notes may not otherwise be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date, except that the Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes before the Maturity Date, in whole, but not in part, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve, upon the occurrence of a Tier 2 Capital Event or a Tax Event, or if the Company is required to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.). Any such redemption shall be at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (subject to the right of Holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). The provisions of Article XI of the Base Indenture shall apply to any redemption of the Notes pursuant to this Section 701. Any partial redemption of a global Security representing the Notes shall be made in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures among all of the Holders of the Notes. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state that it is a partial redemption and the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and a replacement Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note.

 

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Section 702.      Effect of Notice of Redemption. With respect to the Notes only, Section 1106 of the Base Indenture is hereby revised to read as follows:

 

Notice of redemption having been given in accordance with this Indenture, the Notes to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price specified in the notice, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Notes shall cease to bear interest; provided that any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company in its sole discretion) of one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering, other offering, issuance of indebtedness, or other corporate transaction or event, and notice of any redemption in respect thereof may be given prior to the completion thereof and may be partial as a result of only some of the conditions being satisfied. Any such conditions precedent shall be set forth in the notice of redemption, and such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), including to a date that is more than 60 days following the date of the initial notice of redemption, 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 Company in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed. The Company shall provide written notice of the delay or rescission of such notice of redemption to the Trustee no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second Business Day prior to the Redemption Date. Upon surrender of any Note for redemption in accordance with a notice of redemption, such Note shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

 

Article VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 801.      Ratification of Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided; provided, however, that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall apply solely with respect to the Notes and shall govern in the event of any difference with the Base Indenture.

 

Section 802.      Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 803.      Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

Section 804.      Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

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Section 805.      Separability Clause; Entire Agreement.

 

In case any provision in this 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. The Trustee, by its execution of this Indenture, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth. This Indenture, any supplemental indenture hereto and the exhibits hereto or thereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.

 

Section 806.      Benefits of Indenture.

 

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

 

Section 807.      Governing Law.

 

This Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including but not limited to N.Y. General Obligations Law Section 5-1401 and any successor statute thereto), without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

Section 808.      Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, THE BASE INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

Section 809.      Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

Each of the Company and the Trustee irrevocably consents and submits, for itself and in respect of any of its assets or property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and of any appellate court in respect thereof in any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities, and waives any immunity from the jurisdiction of such courts. Each of the Company and the Trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any such suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Company and the Trustee agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Trustee, respectively, and the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the enforcement by any competent court in the Company’s jurisdiction of organization of judgments validly obtained in any such court in New York on the basis of such suit, action or proceeding.

 

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Section 810.      Counterparts.

 

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, email or other electronic format (i.e., “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Supplemental Indenture and any other document, certificate or opinion delivered in connection with this Supplemental Indenture or the issuance and delivery of Notes may be signed by or on behalf of the Company and the Trustee by manual, facsimile or pdf, tif or jpg; provided, however, that the Trustee shall manually authenticate the Notes.

 

Section 811.      Trustee.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, and the recitals contained in this Supplemental Indenture and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof and it shall not be responsible for any statement in any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes.

 

Section 812.      USA PATRIOT Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003, Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account with the Trustee. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with name, address, tax identification number, if applicable, and other information that will allow the Trustee to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship, and will further provide the Trustee with formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents.

 

Article IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

With respect to the Notes only, Sections 901, 902 and 1411 of the Base Indenture are hereby replaced with the following:

 

Section 901.      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

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

 

(a)            to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company as obligor under this Indenture;

 

19

 

 

(b)         to evidence and provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes or facilitate the administration of the trusts under this Indenture by more than one Trustee;

 

(c)         to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company in this Indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Company and evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(d)         to add or eliminate additional Events of Default;

 

(e)         to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Company and evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(f)          to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the prospectus supplement applicable to the Notes at the time of the initial sale thereof;

 

(g)         to secure the Notes or add obligors or collateral;

 

(h)         to establish the form of any Securities and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities under the Base Indenture and to set forth the terms thereof;

 

(i)          to provide for additional Notes;

 

(j)          to provide for the issuance of Notes in uncertificated form in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(k)          to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change, or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of a supplemental indenture making such addition, change or elimination and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

 

(l)          to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes; provided, however, that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

 

(m)        to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of Notes in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Company and evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(n)         to qualify or maintain qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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

 

(p)         provide for any Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions or for the application of a Benchmark Replacement and related Benchmark Replacement Adjustments and/or to implement any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes (or in anticipation thereof).

 

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Section 902.           Supplemental Indenture With Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes and other Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture as applicable to the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to this Section 902 shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected by such supplemental indenture:

 

(a)            change the Stated Maturity or due date of the principal of or interest payable on the Notes or change the currency in which such principal or interest is payable;

 

(b)            reduce the principal amount of or the rate or amount of interest on the Notes;

 

(c)            impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on with respect to the Notes;

 

(d)            reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, the consent of the Holders of which is required (1) to modify or amend this Indenture, or (2) to waive compliance with the provisions of or defaults under this Indenture and their consequences provided for in this Indenture;

 

(e)            modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 of the Base Indenture, or Section 1005 of the Base Indenture, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each affected Outstanding Note, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611(2) of the Base Indenture and Section 901(b) hereof;

 

(f)            modify any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of any Note or of any series of Securities issued under the Base Indenture in a manner adverse to the Holders or adverse to the capital treatment of the Notes, except to clarify ambiguities or to meet regulatory requirements for the Notes to qualify as Tier 2 Capital or the equivalent for bank regulatory purposes; or

 

(g)            modify or affect in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes the terms and conditions of the obligation of the Company in respect of the due and punctual payment of the principal of or premium or interest on the Notes.

 

Section 1411.          Modification of Subordination Provisions.

 

Anything in Article IX of the Base Indenture or elsewhere contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, no modification or amendment of this Indenture that adversely affects the superior position of any holder of Senior Debt shall be effective against any such holder of Senior Debt unless such holder of Senior Debt has consented to such modification or amendment.

 

[Signature page follows on next page]

 

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

 

  WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.
   
  By:    /s/ Jane M. Funk
    Name:  Jane M. Funk
    Title:    Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer  

 

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
   
  By:                /s/ Michael H. Wass
    Name:   Michael H. Wass
    Title:     Vice President  

 

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

(See Attached)

 

A-1

 

 

[FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE]

 

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.

 

5.25% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE JUNE 15, 2032

 

No. 1 $60,000,000 CUSIP No. 95123P AB2
    ISIN No. US95123PAB22

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN THIS SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE OR A SUCCESSOR OF SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

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

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (“FDIC”) OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

 

THIS SECURITY IS SUBORDINATED, AS TO PRINCIPAL, INTEREST AND PREMIUM, AND ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS, IF ANY, TO ALL “SENIOR DEBT” OF THE COMPANY, INCLUDING ALL OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMPANY’S DEPOSITORS AND GENERAL CREDITORS OR TRADE CREDITORS. THIS SECURITY IS NOT SECURED BY ANY ASSETS OF THE COMPANY OR BY THE ASSETS OF ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES, IS NOT GUARANTEED BY ANY OF COMPANY’S SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES.

 

THIS SECURITY IS ISSUABLE IN MINIMUM DENOMINATIONS OF $1,000 AND INTEGRAL MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS THEREIN SET FORTH, SECURITIES OF THIS SERIES ARE EXCHANGEABLE FOR A LIKE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES OF SUCH SERIES OF A DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DENOMINATION, AS REQUESTED BY THE HOLDER SURRENDERING THE SAME.

 

A-2

 

 

West Bancorporation, Inc., an Iowa corporation, and any successor thereto, as provided below (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) on June 15, 2032 (the “Stated Maturity Date”), unless redeemed prior to such date. This Security will bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.25% per annum from and including June 14, 2022, to, but excluding, June 15, 2027 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), unless redeemed prior to such date. Interest accrued on this Security during the Fixed Rate Period will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year (each such date, a “Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date”), with the first such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date being December 15, 2022, and the last such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date being June 15, 2027, unless redeemed prior to such date. This Security will bear interest at a floating per annum interest rate from and including June 15, 2027, to, but excluding, the Stated Maturity Date or any earlier redemption date (the “Redemption Date”) (such period, the “Floating Rate Period”). The floating interest rate will be reset quarterly, and the interest rate for any Floating Interest Period will be equal to the then-current Benchmark plus 241 basis points. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on this Security will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year (each such date, a “Floating Rate Interest Payment Date”, and together with a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, an “Interest Payment Date”), with the first such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date being September 15, 2027, and the last such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date being the Stated Maturity Date, unless redeemed prior to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark is less than zero, the Benchmark shall be deemed to be zero. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) prior to such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be payable.

 

The interest payable on any Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date during the Fixed Rate Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months to, but excluding, June 15, 2027. The interest payable on any Floating Rate Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the number of days actually elapsed. If a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date for this Security falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date or the payment of principal and interest on the Stated Maturity Date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the Holder of this Security will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment. If a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be accelerated to the immediately preceding Business Day, and, in each such case, the amounts payable on such Business Day will include interest accrued to, but excluding, such Business Day.

 

No sinking fund will be provided with respect to this Security. In no event shall any Holder of this Security have the right to require the Company to call, redeem or repurchase this Security, in whole or in part prior to maturity. Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall limit the ability of the Holder of this Security to enforce its rights to the payment of principal and premium, if any, and interest on the Security at maturity as provided herein.

 

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or such other office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose, in U.S. Dollars; provided that, at the option of the Company, interest on this Security may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled to such interest as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

A-3

 

 

 

Under certain conditions, the Company may, without notice to or the consent of the Holder of this Security, create and issue additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as this Security (other than the date of issuance, the issue price, the initial interest accrual date and the first Interest Payment Date), provided that no such additional notes may be issued unless (1) the additional notes are fungible with this Security for United States securities law purposes, (2) (a) the additional notes are issued pursuant to a “qualified reopening” of this Security for United States federal income tax purposes, or (b) this Security was, and the additional notes are, issued without any original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes and (3) the additional notes have the same CUSIP number as this Security. No additional notes may be issued if any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to this Security. Such additional notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with this Security for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

Any “depository institution,” as defined in Section 3(c)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, which holds this Security (or beneficial interest therein) shall be deemed to have agreed by acquiring this Security (or such beneficial interest) to waive any rights to offset all or any portion of the indebtedness represented by this Security (or such beneficial interest) against any indebtedness or other obligations of such institution to the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

A-4 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed by manual, facsimile or pdf.

 

  WEST BANCORPORATION, INC.
     
  By:  
    Name:Jane M. Funk
   

Title:Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

Dated: June 14, 2022

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee

   
  By:  
  Name: Michael H. Wass
  Title: Vice President

 

Dated June 14, 2022

 

[Signature page to Global Note]

 

 

 

 

REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under a Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2022 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by that First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2022 (the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms upon which the Securities of this series designated on the face hereof are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. By the terms of the Indenture, the Securities are issuable in series that may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest, rank and in any other respect provided in the Indenture.

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent provided in the Indenture, and each Holder of this Security, by such Holder’s acceptance of this Security, covenants and agrees to the subordination provided in the Indenture and shall be bound by the provisions of the Indenture. Senior Debt shall continue to be Senior Debt and entitled to the benefits of these subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification, or waiver of any term of the Senior Debt or extension or renewal of the Senior Debt.

 

Each Holder hereof, by his, her or its acceptance hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon said provisions.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of this Security upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

If certain Events 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. Any Event of Default with respect to this Security may be waived by the Holder hereof, as and if provided in the Indenture.

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities of this series, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, on any Interest Payment Date on or after June 15, 2027. The Company may also, at its option, redeem the Securities of this series before the Stated Maturity Date, in whole, but not in part, at any time, upon the occurrence of a Tier 2 Capital Event, a Tax Event or if the Company is required to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Any such redemption will be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date fixed by the Company.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, to the extent then required under or pursuant to applicable regulations of the Federal Reserve, this Security may not be repaid prior to the Stated Maturity Date without the prior written consent of the Federal Reserve. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. The provisions of Article XI of the Base Indenture and Article VII of the First Supplemental Indenture shall apply to the redemption of any Securities of this series by the Company.

 

R-1 

 

 

In the event that any payment on the Securities of this series is subject to withholding of any U.S. federal income tax or other tax or assessment (as a result of a change in law or otherwise), the Company will not pay additional amounts with respect to such tax or assessment.

 

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, premium (if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained under Section 1002 of the Base Indenture for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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

 

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

 

Nothing in this Security, express or implied, shall give to any person, other than the Holders of the Securities of this series, the parties hereto and their permitted successors hereunder, any benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder.

 

All notices under this Security shall be in writing and, in the case of the Company, addressed to the Company at 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or, in the case of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: West Bancorporation, Inc. Administrator or to such other address of the Trustee as the Trustee may notify the Holders of the Securities of this series. All notices to the Holder of this Security will be given to the Holder at its address as it appears in the Security Register.

 

All covenants and agreements by the Company in this Security and the Indenture shall bind the Company’s successors and assigns, including successors by operation of law resulting from a merger or consolidation of the Company, or successors resulting from the transfer of the Company’s assets and liabilities substantially or entirely, to another entity (“Successors”). Any Successor shall expressly assume in writing all the Company’s obligations hereunder prior to becoming a Successor, and upon becoming a Successor, shall perform all the Company’s obligations hereunder and make all payments due hereunder.

 

In case any provision in this Security 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.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY, THE INDENTURE, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including but not limited to N.Y. General Obligations Law Section 5-1401 and any successor statute thereto), without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

R-2 

 

 

[FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE]

 

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:  

  (Insert Assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Security on the books of the Company.
The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:

 

Your signature:  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on| the face of this Security)

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

*Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

R-3 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

 

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $60,000,000. The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date

 

 

Amount of

decrease in

principal amount

of this

Global Note

 

 

Amount of

increase in

principal amount

of this

Global Note

Principal

amount

of this

Global Note

following such

decrease

or increase

 

 

Signature of

authorized

signatory of

Trustee or Custodian

 

R-4 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

June 14, 2022

 

West Bancorporation, Inc.

1601 22nd Street

West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

 

Re:$60,000,000 5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-236740 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by West Bancorporation, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 28, 2020, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is issuing $60,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (the “Securities”). The Securities are being issued under an Indenture dated as of June 14, 2022, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 14, 2022 (as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”), each between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Securities are to be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated as of June 9, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company, West Bank, an Iowa-chartered state bank and Piper Sandler & Co., as sole underwriter.

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

We have made such legal and factual investigations as we deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the Indenture; (c) the Underwriting Agreement; (d) the Securities in global form; and (e) the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company, the board of directors of West Bank, and the pricing committee of the board of directors of the Company relating to the Registration Statement, the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance of the Securities by the Company. In our investigation, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to matters of fact, we have relied upon representations of officers of the Company.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein, it is our opinion that the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when the Securities are duly executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee, all in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to the purchaser thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement.

 

200 West Madison Street, Suite 3900 | Chicago, Illinois 60606 | T. 312.984.3100 | F. 312.984.3150 | bfkn.com

 

 

 

 

West Bancorporation, Inc.

June 14, 2022

Page 2

 

Our opinion set forth above is subject to the following exceptions: (a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; and (b) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; and we express no opinion as to waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights.

 

We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York (excluding the securities laws of the State of New York). We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.

 

We express no opinion with respect to any specific legal issues other than those explicitly addressed herein. We assume no obligation to update this opinion letter after the date that the Registration Statement is initially declared effective or otherwise advise you with respect to any facts or circumstances or changes in law that may occur or come to our attention after such date (even though the change may affect the legal conclusions stated in this opinion letter).

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm in the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters” and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on the date hereof, which exhibit will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP